Exercise Training for Sarcopenia

(M3AX Trial)

This trial aims to explore how different types of exercise can improve strength and overall health in older adults. It combines endurance activities (like walking or cycling) and resistance training (such as weight lifting) to assess individual responses and identify the best ways to enhance physical fitness. Ideal participants are those aged 60 or above who have not followed a regular exercise routine in the past year and are free from chronic diseases that might interfere with exercise. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to discover personalized exercise benefits and improve health.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are taking insulin sensitizing or blood glucose lowering agents like metformin, or high dose lipophilic statins (40 mg or more per day).

Research shows that combining endurance and resistance exercises is generally safe for older adults. Studies have found that resistance training boosts muscle strength and stability in older people with sarcopenia, a condition that leads to muscle loss. It also enhances body composition and daily activity performance.

Further research suggests that adding aerobic exercises or nutritional supplements to resistance training might offer additional benefits. This combination helps older adults increase their strength and functional ability, even for those with heart issues.

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a unique approach to tackling sarcopenia through a combination of endurance and resistance training tailored to individual responsiveness. Unlike standard treatments that may focus on nutrition or general exercise, this trial aims to boost exercise training based on specific categories of responsiveness. By adjusting the training intensity and providing education on wearable device data, this method could offer more personalized and effective solutions for improving muscle function and fitness in older adults.

This trial will evaluate the effects of combined endurance and resistance training on sarcopenia. Studies have shown that combining endurance and resistance exercises benefits older adults with sarcopenia, a condition that causes muscle loss and weakness. Research indicates that resistance exercises improve muscle strength, body composition, and daily task performance. Additionally, combining resistance exercises with aerobic activities or nutritional supplements yields better results than resistance exercises alone. One study found that a mixed exercise program could enhance daily activities, even with just 10 sessions. Overall, these findings suggest that combining different types of exercises can improve strength and physical abilities in older adults experiencing muscle decline.¹³⁶⁷⁸