Effect of a moderate-intensity comprehensive exercise program on body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance in elderly females with sarcopenia

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at examining an eight-week moderate-intensity comprehensive exercise training program on the parameters of sarcopenia in elderly females. METHODS: A total of 49 community-dwelling elderly females with sarcopenia (65.5 ± 2.5) were assigned randomly to an experiment group (EG, n = 25) and a control group (CG, n = 24). In the EG, an eight-week comprehensive exercise training program was implemented, in 1 h, 3 times per week, a total of 24 sessions. The CG only received health public education per two weeks, a total of 4 times. Subsequently, the differences between the two groups were tested through two-way repeated ANOVA. RESULTS: ASM, SMM, and SMI in the EG were significantly improved by 0.26 kg, 0.18 kg, and 0.10 kg/m(2), respectively. Group-by-time interactions were significantly different on the ASM [F (1,47) = 6.25, η(2) = 0.12] and SMI [F (1,47) = 6.77, η(2) = 0.13]. Muscle strength was improved 0.8 kg in the EG. Significant group-by-time interaction differences were reported in the handgrip strength [F (1,47) = 6.8, η(2) = 0.13] after the eight-week intervention. Compared with the baseline, gait speed was improved a 0.05 m/s and 5-time chair stand was decreased a 0.27 s in the EG. Group-by-time interactions were significantly different in 5-time chair stand [F (1, 47) = 6.35, η(2) = 0.12]. CONCLUSIONS: The moderate-intensity comprehensive exercise was confirmed as a safe and convenient exercise program. Although a load of training intensity is not sufficient to improve the gait speed, this exercise protocol is promising in delaying overall results in community-dwelling sarcopenia elderly females and contributes to the improvement of muscle mass, handgrip strength, and 5TCS.