Effects Of Different Resistance Training On The Prevention And Treatment Of Sarcopenia In The Elderly: A Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate the effects of different load resistance training (RT) on preventing and treating sarcopenia in the elderly. METHODS: We searched databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, WDKSP, VIPD) till Nov. 1. 2024, with keywords including sarcopenic, sarcopenia, resistance training, resistance exercise, loads, dosage, intensity, older people, elderly, muscle strength. The screening conditions were as follows: (a) Randomized controlled trials; (b) Participants were seniors over sixty years of age; (c) RT was the training method, and training lessons lasted at least 6 wk; (d) The study design consisted of an intervention group and a control group, or a vertical group and a horizontal group (multiple training methods were excluded); (e) Intervention methods have indicated the degree of load(e.g., low load, high dosage, moderate intensity, 60% of 1RM, etc); (f) The final results of the study should include handgrip strength(HGS). RESULTS: 4177 articles were screened out, and the papers with duplicate titles and abstracts were removed; as a result, 2561 articles remained. An additional 2435 papers were removed after excluding the reviews and reading the abstracts; eventually, 126 articles were read in the full text according to the screening criteria; finally, 15 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Statistical analysis of outcome measures for all included literature was performed using Revman5.4 software. Through analysis of handgrip strength, RT with different loads has an effect [1.57 (95%CI = 0.73,2.41), Z = 3.66 (p = 0.0003)]. Compared with low-load and high-load RT, moderate-load RT had the most effect on the elderly enhancing handgrip strength [2.88 (95%CI = 1.51,4.25), Z = 4.41 (p < 0.0001)]. CONCLUSIONS: RT with different loads is effective in preventing and treating sarcopenia in the elderly. A moderate load of RT has more effectively improved the muscle strength of the elderly, specifically grip strength.