What is the mechanism of action of this treatment?

Aerobic exercise increases skeletal muscle capillarization, enhancing blood flow and nutrient delivery to muscle tissues. This is crucial for sarcopenia patients as it supports muscle repair and growth, counteracting muscle mass loss associated with aging. Improved capillarization also boosts cardiovascular health, which is often compromised in older adults. By enhancing muscle capillarization and cardiovascular function, aerobic exercise helps maintain muscle strength and physical function, essential for the quality of life in sarcopenia patients.

What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

The most common treatments for sarcopenia, such as aerobic exercise and resistance training, generally have mild side effects. These can include muscle soreness, fatigue, and a temporary increase in muscle pain, especially when starting a new exercise regimen. In rare cases, there may be a risk of injury, such as strains or sprains, particularly if exercises are not performed correctly. It is important for individuals to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity of their workouts to minimize these risks. Overall, the benefits of these exercises in improving muscle mass and function typically outweigh the potential side effects.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

As of now, there are no specific FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of sarcopenia. The primary approach to managing sarcopenia involves non-pharmacological interventions such as resistance and aerobic exercise, which have been shown to improve muscle mass and function. Aerobic exercise, in particular, enhances skeletal muscle capillarization, which can support muscle health in older adults. Research continues to explore potential pharmacological treatments, but exercise remains the cornerstone of sarcopenia management.

What other types of research exist?

Promising alternatives to aerobic exercise for sarcopenia patients include resistance training, progressive resistance training, protein supplementation, myostatin inhibitors, selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).

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Behavioural Intervention

Exercise for Sarcopenia

N/A

Waitlist Available

Research Sponsored by Baltimore VA Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 65 years old

Must not have

Physical impairment preventing exercise

Diagnosis of diabetes, cancer, pulmonary or renal disease

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 6 months

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial aims to see if starting with aerobic exercise before strength training can help older adults with muscle loss due to aging. The idea is that better blood flow from aerobic exercise will make muscles respond better to strength training. Participants will start with either aerobic exercise or strength training, and their muscle size, strength, and function will be measured.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for older adults with a body mass index between 18-32.5 who have moderate sarcopenia, which means they've lost muscle mass as they've aged. They must be non-smokers and not currently exercise regularly. People with diabetes, cancer, lung or kidney diseases, or physical impairments that prevent exercising cannot participate.

What is being tested?

The study is testing if doing aerobic exercises can increase the number of small blood vessels in muscles and improve the benefits of strength training in older adults with sarcopenia to help them regain muscle mass and function.

What are the potential side effects?

Typical side effects from aerobic and strength training may include muscle soreness, fatigue, increased heart rate during exercise, joint stress, or injury if not performed correctly.

Eligibility Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I cannot exercise due to a physical impairment.

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I have been diagnosed with diabetes, cancer, lung, or kidney disease.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 6 months

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~6 months

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 6 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Muscle Tissue

Skeletal muscle capillarization

Secondary study objectives

Muscle strength

Skeletal muscle structure

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Aerobic exercise training followed by resistance trainingExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of aerobic exercise training, followed by 3 months of strength training

Group II: Resistance training followed by aerobic exercise trainingActive Control2 Interventions

Participants in this arm will undergo 3 months of strength training, followed by 3 months of aerobic exercise training

0 / 2Eligibility criteria met

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Aerobic exercise increases skeletal muscle capillarization, enhancing blood flow and nutrient delivery to muscle tissues. This is crucial for sarcopenia patients as it supports muscle repair and growth, counteracting muscle mass loss associated with aging. Improved capillarization also boosts cardiovascular health, which is often compromised in older adults. By enhancing muscle capillarization and cardiovascular function, aerobic exercise helps maintain muscle strength and physical function, essential for the quality of life in sarcopenia patients.