Effects of Kinesio taping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in combination with exercise in sarcopenic older adults: a study protocol of a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related disease characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength, and its prevalence is increasing. Exercise is an effective treatment to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and functional activity in sarcopenic older adults. Kinesio taping (KT) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) are widely-used treatments for musculoskeletal disorders and can increase muscle performance and/or muscle mass. However, the potential synergistic effects of combining KT and ESWT with exercise for primary sarcopenia remain unknown. This study aims to determine whether the addition of KT and ESWT could enhance the beneficial effects of exercise on sarcopenia.

Methods: Nighty-four older adults (60 to 75 years old) with sarcopenia will be recruited and assigned randomly into two groups: (1) exercise + placebo ESWT + placebo taping and (2) exercise + ESWT + KT. All participants will undergo an 8-week treatment program, and outcomes will be measured at recruitment and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the initial treatment. The primary outcome will be skeletal muscle index, and the secondary outcomes will be knee muscle strength, muscle tone, gait speed, timed-up-and-go test, five-time chair test, Short Physical Performance Battery, and biomarkers in blood. Two-way repeated measure ANOVA will be used to analyze the differences between the two groups at each time point.

Discussion: This RCT will fill crucial evidence gaps by evaluating the first combined KT + ESWT + exercise protocol for sarcopenia. Our results will determine whether this novel strategy outperforms standard exercise therapy while expanding KT/ESWT indications beyond their current musculoskeletal uses.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http//www.chictr.org.cn) register number ChiCTR2200064269.