Resistance Training and Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life in Younger and Older Adults

ABSTRACT Introduction Older adults are at risk for sarcopenia, which can negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Resistance training may improve HRQoL; however, data using sarcopenia-specific HRQoL assessments are lacking. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether HRQoL differs by age group (younger: age 20–29 yr; older: age 60–85 yr) and resistance training exercise status. Methods Participants ( n = 76) were categorized into four groups based on age and whether they met the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for resistance training: younger resistance trained (YRT), younger not resistance trained (YNT), older resistance trained (ORT), and older not resistance trained (ONT). Participants completed the Sarcopenia and Quality of Life questionnaire (SarQoL®), which assessed total SarQoL® and seven domains: physical and mental health, locomotion, body composition, functionality, activities of daily living (ADLs), leisure activities, and fears. Results ORT and YNT were not significantly different on total SarQoL® and all seven domains ( P ≥ 0.05), despite the age difference; small to medium effect sizes indicated that ORT had higher scores on four domains compared to YNT ( d = 0.21–0.66). ORT scored higher than ONT on total SarQoL® and physical and mental health ( P < 0.05); these effect sizes were large ( d = 0.95 and 0.88, respectively). YRT scored higher than YNT on total SarQoL®, physical and mental health, functionality, ADLs, and leisure activities ( P < 0.05) with large effect sizes ( d = 0.86–1.13). Conclusion Findings suggest that resistance training may be an effective modality to attenuate age-related decline in HRQoL. Findings inform evidence-based practice for healthcare and fitness professionals working with older adults with concerns regarding feelings of weakness, loss of muscle mass, difficulty during physical effort, and feelings of frailty.