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

Sponsor
Cishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare
Study ID
NCT07513025
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Long Term Care Facility
  • Sarcopenia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
60 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • elastic band — DEVICE
    Participants in the experimental group will receive standard care plus progressive resistance training with elastic band (PRT-EB). The PRT-EB is planned to last for 12 weeks, with at least two sessions per week and a minimum interval of one day between sessions. Before each training session, participants will perform a 5-15-minute warm-up exercise led by the research staff. This will be followed by a 30-minute main rehabilitation exercise program and a subsequent 5-15-minute cool-down session. The elastic bands used in this study are Thera-Bands. The resistance increases by 25% with each successive color, except for silver and gold, which increase by 40%. This study will utilize six different colors of Thera-Bands-yellow, red, green, blue, black, and silver-following the principle of progression, with resistance levels increasing every two weeks. The resistance training program targets major muscle groups of both the upper and lower body, focusing on three muscle groups per section.

Study Details

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.

Key Dates

First listed
Apr 6, 2026
Start date
May 5, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Sep 5, 2026
Completion
Sep 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: PRT with EB
    LTCFs users who receive standard care plus progressive resistance training with elastic band
  • No Intervention: Standard care group
    LTCFs users who receive only standard care

Primary Outcome Measure

Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index [ Time Frame: From enrollment (baseline) to the mid-term (at the 6th week) and the end (at the 12th week) of the intervention. ]

Central Contacts

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