Vitality Acupunch Exercise Program for Older Adults With Sarcopenia

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscle Strength; Sleep Quality; Muscle Mass
• Interventions: Other: Control; Other: Vitality acupunch (VA) exercise program

• Registration Number: NCT04535336
• Lead Sponsor: Kaohsiung Medical University

Brief Summary

This project was aimed to test the effects of a six-month VA program on the muscle mass, muscle strength, and quality of sleep of institutional older adults with sarcopenia.

Detailed Description

A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of a six-month VA program on the muscle mass, muscle strength, and quality of sleep of institutional older adults with sarcopenia. Using convenience sampling, 12 long-term care facilities with 114 older adults were recruited, and then cluster-randomized by the facility to a VA experimental or a control group. The experimental group received the VA program led by certified instructors 3 times per week and 40 minutes per session for 6 months; the control group continued with their regular daily activities. One pre-test and two post-tests, 3 months apart, were conducted.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-08-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-08-31
• Study First Posted: 2020-09-01
• Study Start: 2020-09-02
• Status Verified: 2021-04
• Primary Completion: 2021-04-09
• Study Completion: 2021-04-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-04-10
• Last Update Posted: 2021-04-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 114

Inclusion Criteria

• age ≥ 65 years old
• have been living in the facility for at least 3 months
• intact cognitive function with the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire score ≥ 8
• hand-grip strength < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women
• calf circumference < 34 cm for men and < 33 cm for women

Exclusion Criteria

• have spinal cord injury
• have severe cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases
• have musculoskeletal diseases

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control	Control	Participants in the control group continued with their daily activities as usual.
Vitality acupunch (VA)	Vitality acupunch (VA) exercise program	The VA program took 40 minutes to complete and included 3 phases: 1) activating qi and blood (5 movements, 10 minutes): warm-up exercises that allowed the body to accumulate heat and promote flexibility of the joints to loosen up the body, 2) punching meridians (14 movements, 20 minutes): both hands were used to exert a vibrating effect according to the rhythms that stimulate the 14 meridians in the entire body to improve aerobic endurance, and 3) relaxing body and mind (5 movements, 10 minutes): muscle relaxing exercises to rest the body and cease the qi. Participants in the experimental group received the VA program led by the instructors, who were trained an certified by the PI, 3 times per week and 40 minutes per session for 6 months.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Muscle mass	6 months	measured by the calf circumference
Muscle strength	6 months	measured by the Digital Handgrip Dynamometer (TKK-5101)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sleep quality	6 months	Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): score ranges from 0-21; \> 5 indicates clinically significant sleep disruptions.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kaohsiung Medical University; 🇨🇳 Kaohsiung, Taiwan