Effects of Resistance Training on Functional Strength and Muscle Mass in 70-Year-Old Individuals With Pre-sarcopenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Sarcopenia has been defined as age-related loss of muscle mass and function. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of a 10-week instructor-led resistance training program on functional strength and body composition in men and women aged 70 years with presarcopenia. Design, Setting, and Participants: Participants were randomized to either 10 weeks of a physical training regimen including optional nutritional supplementation (n ¼ 36) or to a control group (n ¼ 34) (ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT03297632). The main outcome was changes in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Secondary outcomes included the Timed Up and Go test, chair sit-stand time, lean body mass, and fat mass. Results: The intervention had no significant effect on SPPB in the total cohort (P ¼ .18), when comparing changes in the intervention group with the control group. However, those given the intervention in the male subcohort increased 0.5 0.4 (mean standard error for the difference) points in SPPB during follow-up (P ¼ .02) compared to male controls. With respect to secondary outcomes, the intervention group decreased 0.9 0.6 seconds in chair sit-stand time compared to controls (P ¼ .01). Furthermore, the intervention resulted in significantly greater improvements for the training group than control group in all measures of body composition (P .01 for all). For example, lean body mass increased by a mean of 1147 282 g (P < .001), and total fat mass decreased by a mean of 553 225 g (P ¼ .003), favoring the intervention group. Conclusion/Implications: The main finding of this intervention study is that an easy-to-use, functional resistance training program was effective in maintaining functional strength and increasing muscle mass in older adults with pre-sarcopeni