Vitality Acupunch Exercise Program for Sarcopenia Older Adults (VA)
Activities of Daily Living, Functional Fitness
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Activities of Daily Living
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- age ≥ 65 years old
- have been living in the facility for at least three months
- intact cognitive function with the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) score ≥ 8
- hand-grip strength < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women
- calf circumference < 34 cm for men and < 33 cm for women
Exclusion Criteria:
- have spinal cord injury
- have severe cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases
- have musculoskeletal diseases
Sites / Locations
- Kaohsiung Medical University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Vitality acupunch (VA)
Control
The VA program took 40 minutes to complete and included three phases: 1) activating qi and blood (5 movements, 10 minutes): warm-up exercises that allowed the body to accumulate heat and promote flexibility of the joints to loosen up the body, 2) punching meridians (14 movements, 20 minutes): both hands were used to exert a vibrating effect according to the rhythms that stimulate the 14 meridians in the entire body to improve aerobic endurance, and 3) relaxing body and mind (5 movements, 10 minutes): muscle relaxing exercises to rest the body and cease the qi. Participants in the experimental group received the VA program led by the instructors, who were trained and certified by the PI, 3 times per week and 40 minutes per session for 6 months.
Participants in the control group continued with their daily activities as usual.