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Effect of lower-extremity muscle power training on muscle strength, balance function and walking ability in older adults with heart failure: a randomized controlled trial

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

To assess the impact of combining lower-extremity muscle power training with regular cardiac rehabilitation on the muscle strength, balance function, and walking ability of older adults with heart failure

AbstractSection Findings

Lower-extremity muscle power training was safely performed on older adults with heart failure. Dynamic balance and walking ability improved after regular cardiac rehabilitation, with added benefits observed when combined with lower-extremity muscle power training

AbstractSection Message

Combining lower-extremity muscle power training with regular cardiac rehabilitation further improves dynamic balance and walking ability in older adults with heart failure

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the combined effect of lower-extremity muscle power training and regular cardiac rehabilitation on muscle strength, balance function, and walking ability of older adults with heart failure.

Methods

Thirty-one patients, comprising 17 males and 14 females, aged between 66 and 89 years and diagnosed with non-severe heart failure, were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 15) or control group (n = 16). Both groups participated in a 12-week regular rehabilitation program, with the intervention group receiving additional lower-extremity muscle power training. Various outcome measures, including muscle strength (the five-times-sit-to-stand test and knee extensor peak torque), balance function (Berg balance scale and functional reach test), and walking ability (4-m walk and Timed Up-and-Go tests) were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention.

Results

Of the 31 participants, 27 completed the study protocol. The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in the five-times-sit-to-stand test time, indicating enhanced lower-extremity muscle power compared to the control group. Both groups showed significant differences in the Berg balance scale, functional reach test, 4-m walk test, and Timed Up-and-Go test between baseline and 12 weeks. However, the effect sizes for the changes during the study period were larger in the intervention group (d = 0.74–1.19) than the control group (d = 0.57–0.96).

Conclusion

Combining lower-extremity muscle power training with regular cardiac rehabilitation may lead to additional improvements in muscle function for older adults with heart failure, resulting in enhanced dynamic balance and walking ability.

Trial registration number/date of registration

UMIN000032087/April 4, 2018.

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Data availability

All data used and analyzed to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the study participants. We would also like to thank Kamijo Y, Uenishi H, and all staff members at Sumiya Rehabilitation Hospital for their kind support.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, 580 Mikazura, P.O. Box 641-0011, Wakayama, Japan

    Masato Sakaguchi & Nobuyuki Miyai

  2. Sumiya Rehabilitation Hospital, Wakayama, Japan

    Masato Sakaguchi, Hiroyuki Kobayashi & Mikio Arita

Authors
  1. Masato Sakaguchi
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  2. Nobuyuki Miyai
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  3. Hiroyuki Kobayashi
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Contributions

MS conceived the study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and interpretation and drafted the manuscript. NM contributed to statistical analysis, interpretation, drafting, and final revision of the manuscript. HK contributed to data collection and interpretation. MA contributed to the conception and design of the study, drafting, and final revision of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nobuyuki Miyai.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical approval

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the ethics board of Wakayama Medical University (approval no. 2295).

Informed consent

All participants signed an informed consent form after the objectives of the study and experimental procedures were explained.

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Sakaguchi, M., Miyai, N., Kobayashi, H. et al. Effect of lower-extremity muscle power training on muscle strength, balance function and walking ability in older adults with heart failure: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Geriatr Med 15, 361–370 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-023-00905-8

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