Effects of a Strength Training Programme in Institutionalized Older Adults With Sarcopenia.

March 14, 2026 updated by: Jesús Zapata Linares, University of Extremadura

Effects of a High-intensity Interval Strength Training Programme in Institutionalized Older Adults With Sarcopenia: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Sarcopenia is one of the main problems in the elderly population. The concept of disease has evolved, as have its treatment strategies. Among these is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This approach has been little studied in older adults with sarcopenia, especially in institutionalized older adults in nursing homes. So this will be the objective of the study. A randomised clinical trial is being conducted to analyse how these diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia evolve after the application of HIIT compared to a control group.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

164

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Spain
      • Badajoz, Spain
        • Universidad de Extremadura

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • older adults who have been institutionalized for at least one year
  • older adults who are institutionalized with clinical suspicion of sarcopenia according to the Sarc-F questionnaire and muscle strength criteria
  • older adults residing in the community of Extremadura.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • present cognitive impairment (score <24 Mini-Mental State Examination)
  • primary, serious, or chronic diseases that could explain the decrease in muscle strength and the other diagnostic variables of the participants
  • diseases or physical disorders that hinder the assessment of the participants; -use of drugs that may affect muscle strength and mass.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: This group includes institutionalized older adults aged 60 and over for treatment.
Other: High-intensity interval strength training: therapeutic exercise programme.
A 12-week high-intensity interval strenght training (HIITs) programme is developed with basic exercises adapted to the living environment of older people. Progress in the exercises over the twelve weeks is measured using the maximum weight that can be lifted in one repetition (1-RM), maximum heart rate (MHR) and the Borg scale.
No Intervention: This group includes institutionalized older adults aged 60 and over.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hand grip strenght
Time Frame: Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.
The researchers used the JAMAR dynamometer
Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscular mass / appendicular skeletal mass (ASM)
Time Frame: Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.
The researchers used bioimpedance analysis with Tanita MC780-S MA Multifrequency.
Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.
Physical performance
Time Frame: Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.
The researchers used the scale: "Short Physical Performance Battery" (SPPB).
Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.
Physical performance 2
Time Frame: Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.
The researchers used the test: "Timed Up and Go" (TUG).
Thrice at the baseline: at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Extremadura

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 10, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 23, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 14, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 02

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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