A 4-Week Mobile App–Based Telerehabilitation Program vs Conventional In-Person Rehabilitation in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background Sarcopenia is closely associated with a poor quality of life and mortality, and its prevention and treatment represent a critical area of research. Resistance training is an effective treatment for older adults with sarcopenia. However, they often face challenges when receiving traditional rehabilitation treatments at hospitals. Objective We aimed to compare the effects of a digital rehabilitation program with those of traditional therapist-supervised rehabilitation training on older adults with sarcopenia. Methods In total, 58 older adults with sarcopenia were recruited offline and randomized (1:1) into 2 groups: the telerehabilitation group (TRG, n=29, 50%) and the in-person rehabilitation group (IRG, n=29, 50%). Both groups underwent 4-week resistance training targeting 6 major muscle groups. The TRG received exercise guidance via a mobile app, while the IRG received in-person training from a therapist. Offline assessments of body composition, grip strength, and balance using the 30-Second Arm Curl Test (30SACT), 30-Second Sitting-to-Rising Test (30SSRT), quadriceps femoris extension peak torque (EPT) and extension total power (ETP), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUGT), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, were conducted before and after the intervention. Results Of the 58 patients, 51 (88%; TRG: n=24, 47%; IRG: n=27, 53%) completed the trial. After 4 weeks of intervention, the mean grip strength…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 58 participants or records.
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