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Effect of a Resistance Training Program on Sarcopenia and Functionality of the Older Adults Living in a Nursing Home

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Importance

There are currently few evidence about resistance training as a treatment for sarcopenia in the nursing home setting.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of a resistance training program on the sarcopenia and functionality of the elderly living in a nursing home.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A blinded longitudinal intervention study conducted in elderly people living in a nursing home from August to November 2016. Participants included a convenience sample of 19 older adults.

Intervention

We prescribed a resistance exercise program three times a week for 12 weeks. The scheme was two to three sets with eight to 15 repetitions per exercise.

Main Outcome and Measures

The primary outcome was an increase in muscle strength and an improvement in physical performance of the elderly people living in nursing homes.

Results

19 older adults between 77.7 ± 8.9 years old, completed the 12 week resistance exercise program achieving a significant increase in muscle strength to 5.7 Kg (p = 0.0001) as well as nutritional intake for the first four weeks (p = 0.001); we found an improvement in physical performance (p = 0.0001) in balance (p = 0.0001), chair stand (p = 0.036) and gait speed (p = 0.0001). Of the 47.4% that reached sarcopenia degree, in the end it was 33.3%. A relationship with nutritional status (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0.019) was found with the initial and final handgrip strength (p = 0.041).

Conclusions and relevance

The resistance training program improves the functionality (muscle strength and physical performance), with the benefit of the decrease in severe sarcopenia.

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Acknowledgment

Nursing home Casa Hogar Tepeyac, to the students of the PREPP of the OUSANEG (Andres Castañeda, Karen Medina) and of the Social Service University students of the Bachelor of Nutrition and the Bachelor’s Degree in Science of Physical Activity (Jonathan Roldán) and and Health of the University of Guanajuato for the support in the evaluations and to the Laboratory of Environmental Nutrition and Food Safety for the support with the equipment used. To CONACYT for the grant granted No. 418592.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, México

    J. Martín del Campo Cervantes

  2. Department of Medicine and Nutrition, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus León, Blvd. Puente del Milenio 1001; Fraccionamiento del Predio de San Carlos, León, Guanajuato, 37670, México

    M. Habacuc Macías Cervantes & Rebeca Monroy Torres

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  1. J. Martín del Campo Cervantes
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Correspondence to Rebeca Monroy Torres.

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Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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del Campo Cervantes, J.M., Macías Cervantes, M.H. & Monroy Torres, R. Effect of a Resistance Training Program on Sarcopenia and Functionality of the Older Adults Living in a Nursing Home. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 829–836 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1261-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1261-3

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