A Study on the Effects of Forest Therapy on Sarcopenia
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 36
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Handgrip Strength
研究概览
简要总结
Purpose: The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of an 8-week Forest Based Intervention program on muscle strength, physical performance, and psychological well-being in older women with sarcopenia.
Duration: The program lasts for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week (16 sessions total). Each session is approximately 180 minutes.
Activities: Participants will take part in a structured program at the Caoling Shibi Forest Healing Base in Yunlin. The program includes forest trail walking, resistance training using elastic bands, stretching, and sensory activities such as aromatherapy and deep breathing.
Assessments: Researchers will evaluate physical indicators and psychological well-being before the program, immediately after, and at a 1-month follow-up.
Goal: We hope to determine if combining structured exercise with the forest environment can effectively improve the health and quality of life for older women with sarcopenia.
详细描述
Background and Rationale: Sarcopenia is a common skeletal muscle disease in the elderly characterized by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. While resistance training and nutrition are core management strategies, Forest Healing has been shown to reduce stress (cortisol), regulate the autonomic nervous system, and improve immune function. This study aims to validate a standardized "manualized" forest healing intervention for sarcopenia, utilizing a cross-border collaboration framework between Taiwan and South Korea.
Study Design & Environmental Monitoring: This is a single-arm, pre-post intervention study (quasi-experimental design) conducted at the Caoling Shibi Forest Healing Base (altitude 1,500-1,700m). A unique aspect of this trial is the quantification of environmental factors, including phytoncide concentrations, negative ions, and thermal comfort indices (PMV, PPD), to explore the mechanistic relationship between the forest environment and physiological adaptations.
Intervention Protocol: The standardized 180-minute sessions are designed to integrate physical conditioning with psychological relaxation. The technical protocol dictates:
Aerobic and Balance Training: Forest trail walking maintained at a Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) of 12-13.
Resistance Training: Elastic band exercises targeting upper and lower limbs (3 sets of 8-10 repetitions) at an RPE of 9-13.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Na
- 干预模型
- Single Group
- 主要目的
- Prevention
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 55 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- Female
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Female aged 55 years or older.
- •Meet the AWGS 2025 criteria for sarcopenia (low handgrip strength and low skeletal muscle mass index).
- •Able to walk independently or with assistive devices and safely participate in low-to-moderate intensity exercise training.
- •Willing to commit to the 8-week intervention (16 sessions total) and provide signed informed consent.
排除标准
- •History of major acute illness, hospitalization, or surgery within the past 3 months.
- •Severe cardiovascular, respiratory, or other systemic diseases that make moderate-intensity exercise unsafe.
- •Severe osteoarticular or neurological disorders that significantly impair walking or exercise safety.
- •Severe cognitive impairment that prevents understanding of study procedures or cooperation with the intervention.
- •Presence of implanted medical devices (e.g., pacemakers) that would interfere with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
- •Regular participation in structured resistance training or high-intensity exercise within the past 3 months.
研究组 & 干预措施
Forest-Based Intervention Group
Participants will undergo an 8-week structured forest healing program (2 sessions/week, 16 sessions total) at the Caoling Shibi Forest Healing Base
. Each 180-minute session, led by certified instructors, includes forest trail walking (aerobic/balance), elastic band resistance training, nature-based sensory immersion (forest therapy), and group psychological support. The intervention follows a standardized manual focused on improving muscle strength and physical function.
干预措施: Forest-Based Intervention Program (Behavioral)
结局指标
主要结局
Handgrip Strength
时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.
Measured using a Smedley hand dynamometer for the dominant hand to evaluate maximum muscle strength. Handgrip strength is a key clinical indicator for sarcopenia diagnosis. Values are reported in kilograms (kg).
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
时间窗: Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.
A standardized assessment of lower extremity function, including balance tests, gait speed tests, and five times chair stand tests. Scale title: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Minimum value: 0, Maximum value: 12. Higher scores indicate better physical performance.
Handgrip Strength
时间窗: Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.
Measured using a Smedley hand dynamometer for the dominant hand to evaluate maximum muscle strength. Handgrip strength is a key clinical indicator for sarcopenia diagnosis. Values are reported in kilograms (kg).
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)
时间窗: Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.
A standardized assessment of lower extremity function, including balance tests, gait speed tests, and five times chair stand tests. Scale title: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Minimum value: 0, Maximum value: 12. Higher scores indicate better physical performance.
次要结局
- Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI)(Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.)
- Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36)(Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.)
- Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS)(Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.)
- Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)(Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.)
- Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)(Baseline, 8 weeks, and 4 months.)
- Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI)(Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.)
- Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36)(Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.)
- Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS)(Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.)
- Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)(Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.)
- Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)(Baseline, 2 months, and 3 months.)