Elastic Band-Progressive Resistance Training (EB-PRT) for Sarcopenia Among Heart Failure Patients

The Effectiveness of an Elastic Band -Based Progressive Resistance Training (EB-PRT) in Improving Sarcopenia and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Pilot Mixed-method Study

Heart failure (HF) is a complicated clinical syndrome caused by structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities that result in ineffective myocardial pumping. HF management has placed more emphasis on improving the prognostic factors which determine these poor clinical outcomes. More recently, the prognostic role of sarcopenia in HF has received particular attention. Defined as progressive and generalized decline in skeletal muscle mass, strength and physical performance due to aging, sarcopenia is definitely a common comorbid of HF which follows an age-specific disease epidemiology. Given muscle disuse is the most preventable and reversible factor of sarcopenia, more evidence points to the therapeutic value of resistance training (RT) for this debilitating condition. Nevertheless, the therapeutic effects of RT on improving sarcopenia and thereby the disease prognosis among HF patients is yet to be evaluated. Therefore, the sequential mixed method study including a pilot RCT will be conducted to evaluate the preliminary effect of a 14-week elastic band-progressive resistance training (EB-PRT) and a subsequent qualitative study to explore the subjects' engagement experience. The outcomes cover the whole set of defining characteristics including muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance and the clinical outcomes which reflect HF disease severity and patient-reported HRQL.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Heart Failure
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Elastic band-based progressive resistance training (EB-PRT)

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic value of resistant training (RT) in improving sarcopenia in heart failure patients. To better achieve such therapeutic effects, the design of RT program also needs to comply with the exercise guideline with emphasis placed on increasing the skeletal muscle mass (i.e., the key pathological factor of sarcopenia). Addressing these research agenda is crucial to inform the development of evidence-based practice to tackle the prognostic impact of sarcopenia among HF patients. This is a sequential mixed method study including a pilot RCT to evaluate the preliminary effect of a 14-week elastic band-progressive resistance training (EB-PRT) and a subsequent qualitative study to explore the subjects' engagement experience. The total study period last for 40 weeks. The sample size is 62 participants. It is a single-blinded study. The research assistants for data collection will be blinded.

For intervention group, EB-PRT is implemented during week 1-14. A purposive sample of 12 participants invited for qualitative interview during 21st -22nd week. There are 2 post-test evaluations at 14th week (T1) and 26th week (T2). After the second evaluation at week 26, the group will receive usual care with routine follow-up. For the qualitative study on, a subsample of 12 participants in intervention group will be invited to explore their experience and perception at about 21st-22th week. The interview will be semi-structured and taken about 30-40 minutes at participants' home. The control group will receive usual care including the medical care offered by the specialist out-patient clinic during 1-26 week. There are 2 post-test evaluations at 14th week (T1) and 26th week (T2). From week 27 to week 40, this wait-list control group will receive the same EB-PRT as the intervention group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 62
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Doris Sau Fung YU, PhD; Phone Number: 852 3817 6319; Email: dyu1@hku.hk

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Recruiting
    • The University of Hong Kong
    • Contact: Doris Sau Fung Yu, PhD; Phone Number: 3817 6319; Email: dyu1@hku.hk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age ≥ 50;
2. has a confirmed clinical diagnosis of HF in the electronic health record for at least 6 months to ensure adequate disease exposure;
3. meeting the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia's criteria2 [grip strength measured by dynamometer (Male: <28kg; Female: <18kg); low physical function (defined by Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9) and reduced muscle mass by bioimpedance analysis (Inbody Technology 270; Male: appendicular skeletal muscular index (ASMI) <7.0kg/m2, Female: <5.7kg/m2)];
4. has stable HF and do not have any acute respiratory and musculo-skeletal condition which contradict them from practising exercise;
5. no regular resistance training for the previous 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: EB-PRT; EB-PRT will implemented during week 1-14. A purposive sample of 12 participants invited for qualitative interview during 21st -22nd week. There are 2 post-test evaluations at 14th week and 26th week. After the second evaluation at week 26, the group will receive usual care with routine follow-up.	Behavioral: Elastic band-based progressive resistance training (EB-PRT); EB-PRT will be implemented during week 1-14. The EB-PRT comprises a 4-week training phase, 6-week consolidation phase and a 4-week maintenance phase.
No Intervention: Usual care; The control group will receive usual care including the medical care offered by the specialist out-patient clinic during 1-26 week. There are 2 post-test evaluations at 14th week and 26th week. From week 27 to week 40, this wait-list control group will receive the same EB-PRT as the intervention group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Appendicular skeletal muscular index (ASMI)	ASMI will be measured by the bioimpedance analysis (BIA) method. Reduced muscle mass is defined if ASMI <7.0kg/m2 for male, ASMI <5.7kg/m2 for female.	Changes from baseline to 14 weeks (1st post-test) and 26 weeks (2nd post-test).
Handgrip strength	Handgrip strength will be measured by a hydraulic hand dynamometer from dominant hand, taking the highest value among 3 measurements. Low muscle strength is defined if male <28kg, and femal <18kg.	Changes from baseline to 14 weeks (1st post-test) and 26 weeks (2nd post-test).
Physical function	Physical function will be measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), which combines balance test, gait velocity and chair stand. SPPB score ranges from 0-12, higher score better physical performance. Low physical function is defined by SPPB score ≤9.	Changes from baseline to 14 weeks (1st post-test) and 26 weeks (2nd post-test).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Symptom burden	Symptom burden will be measured by the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS-HF). The total symptom scores are summed to obtain a final grand total symptom burden score (score range of 0 to 416). Higher scores indicate greater symptom burden.	Changes from baseline to 14 weeks (1st post-test) and 26 weeks (2nd post-test).
Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL)	HRQL will be measured by the 21-item Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), to capture the physical, emotional and social well-being. MLHFQ provides a total score (range 0-105, from best to worst HRQoL).	Changes from baseline to 14 weeks (1st post-test) and 26 weeks (2nd post-test).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
• Collaborators: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Doris Sau Fung YU, PhD, The University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 29, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 29, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 7, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 11, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Heart Failure; Sarcopenia; Resistant Training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Heart Diseases; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Heart Failure; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: EB-PRT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No