The Effect of Fun Physical Activities on Sarcopenia Progression among Elderly Residents in Nursing Homes: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Immobilization in the elderly can reduce the size and strength of muscle mass and ultimately lead to sarcopenia, the severity and progression of which can be prevented by exercise. However, due to physical and mental conditions, the elderly may be unable to take full advantage of regular exercise. Therefore, fun exercise through motivation and effective participation of older adults is likely to have positive effects on decreasing the volume and power of muscle mass. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fun physical activities on the progression of sarcopenia among elderly residents in nursing homes. Methods: This study was a two-group randomized controlled trial conducted in 2014. Sixty three older adults were recruited by the random sampling. The elderly in the fun physical exercise group did the exercise for 8 weeks, three times a week for 20 minutes at a time, and in the control group, the adults did the routine exercises. The Berg Balance Scale, a dynamometer, and the Six-Minute Walk Test were used to measure sarcopenia criteria (balance, muscle strength, distance traveled).The statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 13. Results: The results showed that the mean score of the sarcopenia criterion (balance, distance walked, muscles strength) was significantly increased in the fun physical exercise group than in the control group. Conclusion: The fun physical activity reduces sarcopenia progression through improving balance, increasing distances walked, and strengthening muscles.