Effect of 12-month resistance and endurance training on quality, quantity, and function of skeletal muscle in older adults requiring long-term care

• Published in: Experimental gerontology 2017-11, Vol.98, p.230-237
• Main Authors: Yoshiko, Akito, Kaji, Takashi, Sugiyama, Hiroki, Koike, Teruhiko, Oshida, Yoshiharu, Akima, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipokines - blood; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Echo intensity; Endurance training; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Lipids - blood; Long-Term Care; Male; Muscle Strength; Older adults; Physical Endurance; Quadriceps Muscle - diagnostic imaging; Quadriceps Muscle - physiopathology; Recovery of Function; Rehabilitation Centers; Resistance training; Resistance Training - methods; Sarcopenia - blood; Sarcopenia - diagnosis; Sarcopenia - physiopathology; Sarcopenia - therapy; Time Factors; Torque; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography; Walking Speed
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.08.036

Older adults requiring long-term care will experience age-associated deterioration of the quality and quantity of skeletal muscle if no interventions are performed. Long-term training is considered a typical intervention method and is effective for improvement of both muscle quantity and physical function. However, how such training affects muscle quality [i.e., fat-to-muscle ratio as determined by echo intensity (EI)] in older adults requiring long-term care remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 12-month physical training intervention on the quality and quantity of skeletal muscle, physical function, and blood chemistry in older adults requiring long-term care. Seventeen older adults requiring long-term care (Tr-group) and 15 healthy older adults (Cont-group) participated in this study. Patients in the Tr-group performed exercises consisting of resistance and endurance training once or twice a week for 12months. The EI and muscle thickness of the thigh were calculated from the rectus femoris and biceps femoris using B-mode transverse ultrasound images. Physical functions (isometric knee extension peak torque, sit-to-stand test, 5-m normal/maximal speed walking, handgrip strength, and timed up and go test) and blood lipid components including adipocytokines were measured at three points, i.e. baseline and 6 and 12months after. The thigh EI was significantly lower after 6months of training than baseline, and it returned to the initial level after 12months of training (baseline, 70.2±8.3a.u.; 6months, 64.1±11.2a.u.; 12months, 72.3±7.2a.u.). The thigh muscle thickness, 5-m maximal speed walking, and knee extension torque were significantly improved after 12months of training (P