Exercise Snacks for Muscle Strength in Older Adults With Possible Sarcopenia

NCT07821164 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CQUE-LL20260122009
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate whether exercise snacks, a time-efficient approach involving short bouts of exercise performed throughout the day, can improve muscle strength in older adults with possible sarcopenia. Participants will be randomly assigned to an exercise snacks group, a home-based resistance training group, or a non-exercise control group. The intervention will last 8 weeks. Muscle strength and physical function will be assessed before and after the intervention.

Conditions

Possible Sarcopenia

Keywords

Exercise Snacks; Possible Sarcopenia; Older Adults; Muscle Strength

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Handgrip Strength

  Handgrip strength was assessed using a hydraulic dynamometer. Participants performed three maximal voluntary contractions with the dominant hand, and the highest peak force was used for analysis.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Five-Time Chair Stand Test

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention

• 30-Second Chair Stand Test

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention

• Isokinetic Knee Peak Torque

  Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention

• Exercise Adherence

  During the 8-week intervention

Study Arms (3)

Exercise Snacks Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants completed an 8-week exercise snacks intervention consisting of brief exercise sessions distributed throughout the day. The exercise protocol included sit-to-stand, alternating seated knee extension, alternating standing knee flexion, high-knee marching in place, and wall push exercises.

Behavioral: Exercise Snacks

Home-based Resistance Training Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants completed an 8-week structured home-based resistance training program using the same bodyweight exercise protocol as the exercise snacks group but with a different exercise schedule.

Behavioral: Home-based Resistance Training

No Intervention

NO INTERVENTION

Participants maintained their habitual lifestyle during the 8-week intervention period and did not receive any structured exercise program.

Interventions

Exercise Snacks BEHAVIORAL

The exercise snacks intervention consisted of brief bouts of bodyweight exercises performed throughout the day for 8 weeks. Participants completed three exercise sessions per day, five days per week. Each session included five exercises: sit-to-stand, alternating seated knee extension, alternating standing knee flexion, high-knee marching in place, and wall push.

Exercise Snacks Group

Home-based Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

Participants completed an 8-week home-based resistance training program using the same bodyweight exercises as the exercise snacks group. Training was performed three days per week with multiple exercise sessions completed on each training day.

Home-based Resistance Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older.
• Meeting the criteria for possible sarcopenia according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 consensus.
• Handgrip strength less than 28 kg for men or less than 18 kg for women.
• Five-time chair stand test time of 12 seconds or longer.
• Able to independently complete the exercise protocol and outcome assessments.
• Provided written informed consent before participation.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of contraindications to physical activity according to the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).
• Participation in regular structured resistance training.
• Use of medications or treatments likely to substantially affect muscle strength.
• Participation in other interventional studies within the previous three months.
• Unable to complete the five-time chair stand test independently.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ziren Zhao: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sports Centre

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 10, 2026
• First Posted: September 15, 2026
• Study Start: May 13, 2026
• Primary Completion: July 25, 2026
• Study Completion: July 25, 2026
• Last Updated: September 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Locations

CN (1)