Circuit Training Improvements in Korean Women with Sarcopenia

Abstract

Sarcopenia is defined as an age-related decrease in muscle mass, strength, and function. We investigated the effect of circuit training on body composition, balance, muscle mass and strength, and pulmonary function in Korean women with sarcopenia. We randomly assigned 26 Korean women with sarcopenia ( Mage = 74.9, SD = 4.5 years) to either an exercise group (EG) ( n = 13) or a control group (CG) ( n = 13). The EG performed 25-75 minutes of circuit exercise training (gradually increasing time periods) three times per week over 12 weeks, while the CG maintained their usual daily lifestyle during the intervention period. We measured body weight, body mass index, percent body fat, free fat mass, balance ability, peak torque in shoulder, knee, and lumbar joints normalized for bodyweight (BW), forced vital capacity, percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second, and forced expiratory flow 25–75% before and after the intervention. The EG showed improved body composition (i.e., body mass index, fat-free body mass, fat mass; all p < .032, η2 > 0.180), balance (i.e., right and left of static and dynamic balance and fast 10-m walk; all p < .050, η2 > 0.151), muscular function (i.e., 90°/s and 180°/s peak power per kilogram BW, 90°/s average power per kilogram BW, 180°/s total work, and 180°/s endurance ratio; all p < .045, η2 > 0.157), and pulmonary function (all p < .005, η2 > 0.292). On the other hand, the CG showed no significant changes. Circuit exercise training improves muscle mass and strength, body composition, balance, and pulmonary function in women with sarcopenia.

Sex-Specific Energy Intakes and Physical Activity Levels According to the Presence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Elderly People: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018

“…In particular, elderly people with sarcopenia, increased body fat, and decreased muscle strength and muscle endurance due to aging have been found to have a high incidence of MetS due to reduced activities of daily living or the presence of chronic diseases [ 2 , 36 ], which in turn leads to a decrease in quality of life due to limited PA such as reduced PA as a result of cardiovascular diseases and reduced muscular strength, muscular endurance, and balance [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…In modern societies, the increase in average life expectancy due to advances in medical technology and improvements in economic status has resulted in an increasingly aging population. Increased body fat and lower muscle mass as a result of aging cause physical problems in this population [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Furthermore, considering the deterioration in quality of life and increase in socioeconomic problems, such as chronic morbidity, medical expenses, and mortality, it is important to find ways to solve the health problems of elderly people [ 2 , 4 ].…”

“…Elderly people with high-calorie diets and decreased physical activity (PA) levels show a gradual increase in body fat due to excessive accumulation of body fat, and metabolic factors such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammation increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases [ 6 , 11 , 12 ]. In particular, a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in body fat were found to have a negative effect on the condition of the metabolism, such as decreased body function, physical strength, blood lipids, body inflammation, and hormones [ 2 , 13 , 14 ].…”

Resistance Exercise, Electrical Muscle Stimulation, and Whole-Body Vibration in Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Knee extension strength was by far the most common outcome across studies and was reported in 2 EMS studies with 2 intervention groups [ 36 , 37 ], 6 WBW studies with 8 intervention groups [ 25 , 26 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], and 26 RT studies with 29 intervention groups [ 25 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. In total, 5 studies measured isokinetic strength (1 study at 30°/s, 3 studies at 60°/s and 1 study sat 90°/s), and the rest measured isometric strength.…”

“…Body fat mass was reported in 2 WBV [ 39 , 41 ] and 14 RT (16 intervention groups) studies [ 45 , 50 , 53 , 55 , 58 , 62 , 70 , 71 , 73 , 74 , 76 , 80 , 81 , 85 ], with a statistically significant decrease overall (SMD = −0.65 (−1.09–−0.21); p < 0.001; I 2 = 86%). For the purposes of MD calculation, three studies (4 intervention groups) [ 45 , 58 , 74 ] that reported body mass in kg instead of the percentage of body weight were removed and the analysis was repeated.…”