Practical Application of Resistance Exercise for Prevention of Sarcopenia

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a major component of age-related frailty and also a strong predictor of disability, morbidity, and mortality in the aging population. Resistance exercise could be the most effective intervention that improves muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, thus preventing sarcopenia in older adults. The benefits of these exercise programs correlate with the intensity and the frequency of the exercise regimes used in the trials. Clinical trials vary in terms of population, setting, and exercise regimes; hence, more standardized clinical trials are required. In this review, we focus on the effects of resistance exercise on muscle mass, strength, cognitive and physical function, and the principle and applications of resistance exercise considering recent trends that include high-intensity interval training, high speed power training, eccentric exercise, and whole-body vibration exercise.