Comparative effectiveness study of low versus high-intensity aerobic training with resistance training in community-dwelling older men with post-COVID 19 sarcopenia: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To find and compare the clinical and psychological effects of low and high-intensity aerobic training combined with resistance training in community-dwelling older men with post-COVID-19 sarcopenia symptoms. Design: Randomized control trial. Setting: University physiotherapy clinic. Participants: Men in the age range of 60–80 years with post-COVID-19 Sarcopenia. Intervention: All participants received resistance training for whatever time of the day that they received it, and that in addition they were randomized into two groups like low-intensity aerobic training group ( n = 38) and high-intensity aerobic training group ( n = 38) for 30 minutes/session, 1 session/day, 4 days/week for 8 weeks. Outcomes: Clinical (muscle strength and muscle mass) and psychological (kinesiophobia and quality of life scales) measures were measured at the baseline, fourth week, the eighth week, and at six months follow-up. Results: The 2 × 4 group by time repeated measures MANOVA with corrected post-hoc tests for six dependent variables shows a significant difference between the groups ( P < 0.001). At the end of six months follow up, the handgrip strength, −3.9 (95% CI −4.26 to −3.53), kinesiophobia level 4.7 (95% CI 4.24 to 5.15), and quality of life −10.4 (95% CI −10.81 to −9.9) shows more improvement ( P < 0.001) in low-intensity aerobic training group than high-intensity aerobic training group, but in muscle mass both groups did not show any significant difference ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Low-intensity aerobic training exercises are more effective in improving the clinical (muscle strength) and psychological (kinesiophobia and quality of life) measures than high-intensity aerobic training in post-COVID 19 Sarcopenia.