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

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Sarcopenia, Long Term Care Facility

In brief

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 facts

Study ID

NCT07513025

Run by

Cishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare

People needed

60

Starts

2026-05-05

Expected to finish

2026-09-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-18

Who can join

Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Older adults aged 60 years or above who are either receiving daycare services at long-term care facilities affiliated with or contracted by this hospital, or residents living in the hospital-affiliated nursing home.
• Individuals with sufficient cognitive and physical capacity to participate in a progressive resistance training program incorporating elastic bands, with each session lasting at least 30 minutes. -

You may not qualify if…

• Inability to maintain a seated position for more than one hour.
• Presence of uncontrolled hypertension, recent infections, major cardiovascular diseases, or other contraindications to exercise training as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
• Long-term bedridden individuals unable to participate in the progressive resistance training program incorporating elastic bands.
• Individuals with respiratory diseases requiring regular oxygen support in daily life.

Where it is running

• CiShan hospital, MOHW — Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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