Health benefits of exercise rehabilitation in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review of systematic reviews / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo analyze the disease and functioning characteristics of older adults with sarcopenia, the main exercise rehabilitation interventions, and its health benefits. MethodsLiterature related to exercise rehabilitation for older adults with sarcopenia was searched in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and CNKI, from 2013 to 2023. The quality of included systematic reviews were evaluated. ICD-11 and ICF classification systems, and PICO framework from PRISMA guideline were used to report characteristics of the disease and functioning of the population, the exercise rehabilitation interventions, and its health benefits. ResultsFinally, seven systematic reviews from Netherlands, Spain, China, Brazil and Mexico were included, covering 98 related randomized controlled trials, involving 19 794 participants. These systematic reviews mainly came from the journals in the fields of aging, rehabilitation, nutrition, public health and physical exercise, and were published between 2018 and 2023. Exercise rehabilitation for sarcopenia were categorized into three types exercise rehabilitation, exercise rehabilitation combined with nutritional supplementation, and exercise rehabilitation combined with nursing care. Interventions primarily included aerobic training, resistance training, gait training, strength training, and balance and flexibility exercises. The intervention frequency was six to 150 minutes, one to five times a week, with intensities ranging from low to high, over a duration of six to 144 weeks. The health benefits for older adults with sarcopenia from exercise rehabilitation were reflected in improvement in physical function and structure, and enhancement in activity and participation. In terms of body function and structure, exercise rehabilitation improved muscle strength, control, coordination, gait, balance, leg extension, leg press, back strength and grip strength, and increased muscle quality. In terms of activity and participation, exercise rehabilitation improved physical activity performance, such as walking speed and time of five-repetition chair stand test. ConclusionExercise rehabilitation for sarcopenia includes exercise rehabilitation, exercise rehabilitation combined with nutritional supplementation, and exercise rehabilitation combined with nursing care. Exercise rehabilitation can improve the physical function and structure, and enhance activity and participation.