Efficacy on Walking Ability of Electroacupuncture Therapy in Elderly Patients With Sarcopenia

Efficacy on Walking Ability of Electroacupuncture Therapy in Elderly Patients With Sarcopenia：a Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: The efficacy of existing therapies for the treatment of sarcopenia is still not satisfactory. Therefore, this randomized controlled, assessor-blinded study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture(EA) therapy in elderly patients with sarcopenia.

Methods and analysis: This randomized controlled trial will enroll 120 elderly patients with sarcopenia. Subjects will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either EA combined with rehabilitation training group or rehabilitation training group through a central computerized randomization system. Primary outcome measure is lower limb mobility, including 6-minute walk test、timed get up and go test, and short physical performance battery. Secondary outcome measures include lower limb muscle mass and lower limb muscle strength. Outcome assessment will be conducted before the intervention, at 12 weeks after the intervention and at the end of the 12-week follow-up. Adverse reactions will be evaluated during the trial.

Conclusion: This research will provide evidence to clarify whether EA is effective and safe in the treatment of sarcopenia.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: electroacupuncture; Behavioral: Rehabilitation Training

Detailed Description

Introduction: The efficacy of existing therapies for the treatment of sarcopenia is still not satisfactory. Therefore, this randomized controlled, assessor-blinded study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture(EA) therapy in elderly patients with sarcopenia.

Methods and analysis: This randomized controlled trial will enroll 120 elderly patients with sarcopenia. The experimental group is EA combined with rehabilitation training group, while the control group is rehabilitation training group. Rehabilitation training is the more recognized treatment method for sarcopenia all over the world. Eligible subjects will be randomly assigned to two group in a 1:1 allocation ratio. All participants will undergo 12 weeks of treatments in two groups. This protocol is based on the standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) and the SPIRIT reporting guidelines. Primary outcome measure is lower limb mobility, including 6-minute walk test、timed get up and go test, and short physical performance battery. Secondary outcome measures include lower limb muscle mass and lower limb muscle strength, such as lower extremity skeletal muscle mass、appendicular skeletal muscle mass、calf circumference、knee flexion and extension strength and grip strength. Outcome assessment will be conducted before the intervention, at 12 weeks after the intervention and at the end of the 12-week follow-up. Adverse reactions will be evaluated during the trial.

Conclusion: This research will provide evidence to clarify whether EA is effective and safe in the treatment of sarcopenia.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Wenzhe Wu, Master; Phone Number: 18757570729; Email: 2008777.1378@163.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Zhejiang
    • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
      • Recruiting
      • the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
      • Contact: Wenzhe Wu, Master; Phone Number: 18757570729; Email: 2008777.1378@163.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 60 years ≤ age ≤ 95 years, male or female;
2. Patients are able to walk and communicate independently, and can complete required rehabilitation training;
3. Patients meet the diagnostic criteria proposed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia(AWGS);
4. Patients volunteer to participate in this study and sign the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with serious primary diseases of heart, brain, liver, kidney and hematopoietic system;
2. Patients with severe mental illness, cognitive impairment, and disorientation;
3. Patients have trauma and unsuitable for sports;
4. Patients with electronic devices or metal objects implanted in the body;
5. Patients can't complete the required rehabilitation training;
6. Patients cannot receive EA treatment due to any reasons
7. Patients are participating in other drugs, acupuncture and massage trials.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: electroacupuncture and rehabilitation training; Participants in this group will received electroacupuncture（EA） combined with Otago exercise program(OEP). Acupuncture will be executed with size 0.30×40mm needle. EA will be performed with electronic acupuncture instruments	Device: electroacupuncture; Participants are required to be in the supine position. Routine disinfection first. Participants are then subjected to acupuncture and achieve deqi sensation at all acupuncture points. Four paired of acupuncture points (i.e. Biguan acupoints and Futu points; Yanglingquan acupoints and Zusanli acupoints, identical on both sides) are connected to the EA devices. EA parameter is set as sparse wave and frequency is 2Hz. The intensity of the EA is determined by the patients' tolerance. Needles will be left in place and each session of EA will last 30 minutes. Participants will undergo a total of 36 EA sessions, with the frequency of 3 sessions every week for 12 weeks.; Behavioral: Rehabilitation Training; The rehabilitation training group will be only treated with the Otago exercise program(OEP). Otago Exercise combines resistance exercise, balance training and aerobic walking and is an exercise prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia.; Exercise: including warm-up exercise (5 minutes) + resistance exercise (20 minutes) + balance training (5 minutes). Training intensity: 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, once every other day, 12 weeks of training period; resistance exercise gradually increases the load.; Walking program: Take a walk. Activity intensity: 30 minutes each time, 2 times a week, combined with exercise (walking during the interval between exercise sessions), 12 weeks of training period
Active Comparator: rehabilitation training only; The rehabilitation group will be only treated with the Otago exercise program(OEP). The Otago Exercise is a program developed by the research group of fall prevention in the elderly led by Campbell of Otago Medical University in the 1990s. It is a home exercise program aimed at strengthening lower extremity muscle, balance and preventing falls in the elderly. Otago Exercise combines resistance exercise, balance training and aerobic walking and is an exercise prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia (details are as follows).	Behavioral: Rehabilitation Training; The rehabilitation training group will be only treated with the Otago exercise program(OEP). Otago Exercise combines resistance exercise, balance training and aerobic walking and is an exercise prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia.; Exercise: including warm-up exercise (5 minutes) + resistance exercise (20 minutes) + balance training (5 minutes). Training intensity: 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, once every other day, 12 weeks of training period; resistance exercise gradually increases the load.; Walking program: Take a walk. Activity intensity: 30 minutes each time, 2 times a week, combined with exercise (walking during the interval between exercise sessions), 12 weeks of training period

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
6min walk test	The 6-min walking test setup is a straight line of 20 meters on a flat floor, and a chair is placed at each end as a sign. The subjects walk back and forth between them. The pace of walking is determined according to their own physical fitness, and they walk as fast as possible. In this way, the maximum walking distance that an individual can reach within 6 minutes will be texted	12 weeks
time to get up and go(TGUG)	The TGUG test measures the time it takes for an individual to get up from a chair, complete a short 3 meters round-trip walk, and finally sit back in the chair.	12 weeks
short physical performance battery (SPPB)	SPPB is a comprehensive test instrument that includes a walking speed test, a sit-to-stand test, and a balance test. The Walking Speed Test measures the time to pass a distance of 4 meters at daily walking speed. Sit-to-stand test is to calculate the time to complete 5 consecutive sets of getting up-sit down. The balance test includes 3 parts: 10 seconds for standing on the left and right side of both feet; standing on half front and half rear feet and standing on front and rear feet	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
lower extremity skeletal muscle mass	The skeletal muscle mass of the lower limbs can be detected separately by applying the BCA body composition analyzer produced by Tsinghua Tongfang	12 weeks
appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASMM)	The BCA body composition analyzer produced by Tsinghua Tongfang can be used to directly test the skeletal muscle mass of the extremities.	12 weeks
calf circumference	Measured by applying a measuring tape horizontally around the circumference of the thickest part of the calf	12 weeks
knee flexion and extension strength	The TB-ISO multi-joint isometric strength testing system (made in Italy) was applied to test the peak moment/peak moment body weight ratio, average power, and total work for the isometric exercise of knee flexion and knee extension, respectively.	12 weeks
grip strength	grip strength was obtained by grip strength measurement	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
• Investigators: Study Director: Wenzhe Wu, Master, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University; Principal Investigator: Ming Guo, Doctor, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Principal Investigator: Hantong Hu, Doctor, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University; Principal Investigator: Hong Gao, Master, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University; Principal Investigator: Jinkuo Pang, Bachelor, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University; Principal Investigator: Yanfei Cao, Master, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University; Principal Investigator: Yiting Zhang, Master, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Wu W, Huang X, Fang L, Hu H, Han D. Electroacupuncture Plus Exercise for Sarcopenia in Older Adults: Protocol for a Randomized, Controlled, Assessor-Blinded Trial. Clin Interv Aging. 2025 Oct 23;20:1775-1786. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S545035. eCollection 2025.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 2, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 12, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 18, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 24, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: sarcopenia；electroacupuncture; geriatric
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Sarcopenia; Therapeutics; Complementary Therapies; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Anesthesia and Analgesia; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Anesthesia; Analgesia; Acupuncture Therapy; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; Electroacupuncture
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022ZB186

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: no plan

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No