A 4-Week Mobile App–Based Telerehabilitation Program vs Conventional In-Person Rehabilitation in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: Randomized Controlled Trial

• DOI: 10.2196/67846
• Publication Date: 2025-01-15T08:12:23Z
• Authors: Lu Zhang; Ying Ge; Wowa Zhao; Xuan Shu; Lin Kang; Qiumei Wang; Ying Liu
• Keywords: Preprint; Mobile apps

Background Sarcopenia is closely associated with a poor quality of life and mortality, its prevention treatment represent critical area research. Resistance training an effective for older adults sarcopenia. However, they often face challenges when receiving traditional rehabilitation treatments at hospitals. Objective We aimed to compare the effects digital program those therapist-supervised on Methods In total, 58 sarcopenia were recruited offline randomized (1:1) into 2 groups: telerehabilitation group (TRG, n=29, 50%) in-person (IRG, 50%). Both groups underwent 4-week resistance targeting 6 major muscle groups. The TRG received exercise guidance via mobile app, while IRG from therapist. Offline assessments body composition, grip strength, balance using 30-Second Arm Curl Test (30SACT), Sitting-to-Rising (30SSRT), quadriceps femoris extension peak torque (EPT) total power (ETP), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up-and-Go (TUGT), 6-Minute Walk (6MWT), Instrumental Activities Daily Living (IADL) scale, conducted before after intervention. Results Of patients, 51 (88%; TRG: n=24, 47%; IRG: n=27, 53%) completed trial. After 4 weeks intervention, mean strength increased 18.10 (SD 5.56) 19.92 5.90) kg in (P=.02) 18.59 5.95) 19.59 6.11) (P=.01). 30SACT 30SSRT scores 12.48 2.68) 14.94 3.68) times (P=.01) 15.16 7.23) 16.58 8.42) (P=.045), respectively, 12.25 4.19) 14.68 4.36) (P=.003) 14.31 4.04) 16.25 4.91) (P=.01), IRG. EPT 26.19 10.26) 35.00 13.74) Nm (P=.004) 26.95 11.81) 32.74 12.33) BBS significantly improved both (P<.001), score increasing by 3.19 2.86) points 3.06 2.44) points. Neither exhibited significant within-group changes TUGT or 6MWT. reported improvements IADL (TRG: P=.04; P=.02). Between-group comparisons revealed no differences all indicators. Conclusions A remote improving balance, sarcopenia, comparable supervised physical Telerehabilitation may be convenient alternative who have limited access resources. Trial Registration ChiCTR 2300071648; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=196313