Effectiveness of RPT With Elastic Band in Tx of Sarcopenia in LTCFs

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of progressive resistance training using elastic bands in treating and delaying the progression of sarcopenia among older adults in long-term care facilities. Sarcopenia, characterized by a progressive decline in muscle mass and strength, affects more than 20% of individuals aged over 65 in Taiwan and is a significant risk factor for impaired daily functioning, falls, and increased mortality in older adults. While resistance or aerobic exercises are known to improve muscle strength and function in the elderly, such interventions are challenging to implement long-term in rural care facilities due to limited resources.

The study aims to determine:

Whether elastic band progressive resistance training can achieve clinical benefits in treating and delaying sarcopenia with minimal rehabilitation personnel.

Whether this training model can be adapted to rural care facilities and other resource-limited settings, aligning with the goals of Taiwan's Long-Term Care 2.0 program.

Participants will engage in a 12-week program, involving twice-weekly, 30-minute sessions of upper and lower limb resistance training using elastic bands. The training incorporates major muscle groups and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques.

Primary outcomes:

Skeletal muscle mass index of the limbs Dominant hand grip strength Walking speed SARC-F questionnaire scores

Secondary outcomes:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the dominant hand Muscle thickness assessed via ultrasound Functional activities of the dominant upper limb Calf circumference Quality of life indicators

The study will be conducted in long-term care facilities affiliated with or contracted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare Qishan Hospital. The findings aim to provide evidence for scalable, low-resource sarcopenia interventions suitable for rural and underserved populations.