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Exercise Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia. A Systematic Umbrella Review

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the efficacy of different exercise interventions to counter sarcopenia in older adults. This review will allow the Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics and other scientific societies to formulate specific exercise recommendations in their Clinical Guidelines for Sarcopenia.

Design

We used the method of a systematic umbrella-review. Based on the level of evidence, we formulated specific recommendations for clinical practice.

Methods

Two databases (Pubmed and Web Of Science) were searched systematically and methodological quality of the reviews was assessed. Extracted data was than mapped to an exercise category and an overall synthesis (bottom line statements) was formulated for each of these exercise categories. Subsequently, we assigned a rating of the quality of the evidence supporting each bottom line statement.

Results

We identified 14 systematic reviews or meta-analyses, encompassing four exercise categories: resistance training, resistance training + nutritional supplementation, multimodal exercise programmes and bloodflow restriction training. Importantly, very few systematic reviews or meta-analyses clearly mentioned baseline sarcopenia status. There is high quality evidence for a positive and significant effect of resistance training on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. The added effect of nutritional supplementation for resistance training on muscle function appears limited. Blood flow restriction training is a novel training method that has a significant impact on muscle strength.

Conclusion

Since sarcopenia is affecting all skeletal muscles in the body, we recommend training the large muscle groups in a total body approach. Although low-intensity resistance training (≤50% 1RM) is sufficient to induce strength gains, we recommend a high-intensity resistance training program (i.e. 80% 1RM) to obtain maximal strength gains. Multimodal exercises and blood flow restriction resistance training may be considered as well.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    D. Beckwée

  2. Frailty in Ageing Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    D. Beckwée, A. Delaere, S. Aelbrecht, V. Baert & Ivan Bautmans

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    D. Beckwée

  4. Department of Geriatric Physiotherapy, SOMT University of Physiotherapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

    D. Beckwée & Ivan Bautmans

  5. Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    C. Beaudart & O. Bruyere

  6. CHU UCL Namur, Namur, Belgium

    M. de Saint-Hubert

  7. Institut de Recherche Santé Société, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

    M. de Saint-Hubert

  8. Gerontology (GERO) & Frailty in Ageing research (FRIA) departments, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Ivan Bautmans

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Consortia

Sarcopenia Guidelines Development Group of the Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (BSGG)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ivan Bautmans.

Additional information

Members of the Sarcopenia Guideline Development group of the BSGG: Ivan Bautmans; ivan.bautmans@vub.be; Charlotte Beaudart; c.beaudart@ulg.ac.be; David Beckwée; david.beckwee@vub. be; Ingo Beyer; Ingo.Beyer@uzbrussel.be; Olivier Bruyère; olivier.bruyere@ulg.ac.be; Sandra De Breucker; Sandra.De.Breucker@erasme. ulb.ac.be; Anne-Marie De Cock; Annemarie.DeCock@emmaus.be; Andreas Delaere; Andreas.Delaere@vub.be; Marie de Saint-Hubert; marie.desainthubert@uclouvain.be; Anton De Spiegeleer; Anton.DeSpiegeleer@UGent.be; Evelien Gielen; evelien.gielen@ uzleuven.be; Stany Perkisas; stany.perkisas@zna.be; Maurits Vandewoude; Maurits. Vandewoude@zna.be

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Beckwée, D., Delaere, A., Aelbrecht, S. et al. Exercise Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia. A Systematic Umbrella Review. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 494–502 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1196-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1196-8

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