Beneficial effects of walking-based home program for improving cardio-respiratory performance and physical activity in sarcopenic older people: a randomized controlled trial.
Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat, Chareeporn Akekawatchai
PMID 36416166WHAT IT FOUND
Sarcopenic older adults who walked 7,500 steps daily for five days a week and did resistance bands twice weekly for 12 weeks improved grip strength, gait speed, and walking distance.
Muscle mass did not change. The intervention combined walking with resistance exercise, so the effect of either alone is unknown.
Key findings
01The intervention group significantly improved handgrip strength, gait speed, and 6-minute walk distance compared with the control group after 12 weeks.
02Skeletal muscle mass index did not significantly change in either group, despite improvements in strength and physical performance.
03Two participants in the intervention group dropped out due to knee pain caused by the walking program.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The intervention combined walking and resistance exercise, so the contribution of either component cannot be separated. The study duration (12 weeks) may have been too short to detect changes in skeletal muscle mass. Two participants dropped out due to knee pain, indicating the walking program may not be appropriate for those with musculoskeletal issues. The study was conducted in community-dwelling older adults in Thailand, which may limit generalizability to other populations.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were explicitly declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this program builds muscle mass. While strength and function improved, skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly in the 12-week period. Also, do not prescribe this to patients with knee pain, as it caused dropouts in the trial.