Home-Based Resistance Training for Older Subjects during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: Preliminary Results of a Six-Months RCT

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a six-month home-based resistance-training program on muscle health and physical performance in healthy older subjects during the unique condition of home confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a randomized-controlled study that enrolled older participants that were allocated to either an experimental group performing the six-months exercise prescription (EXE) or a control group (CON). At the beginning (PRE), and after 6 months (POST), participants were assessed for muscle strength, balance, gait assessment and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Normality distribution of data was checked with the D'Agostino and Pearson test and changes between PRE and POST were assessed by paired Student's t-test while percentage and absolute changes between groups at POST were tested by unpaired t-test.

Results: Nine participants were included for the final analysis: EXE, n = 5 (age: 66 ± 4; BMI: 27.5 ± 3.7) and CON, n = 4 (age: 71 ± 9; BMI: 24.2 ± 4.1). Significant PRE-to-POST changes were observed in the EXE group only in the chair-stand test (+19.8%, p = 0.048 and ES:1.0, moderate) and in total fat mass (+5.0%, p = 0.035 and ES:1.4, large) with no between-group differences. Moreover, EXE had significantly higher absolute thigh CSA values than CON at POST (14.138 ± 2977 vs. 9039 ± 1015, p = 0.0178, ES = 1.7). No other within- and between-group differences were detected.

Conclusions: The home-based resistance-training program during the lockdown period, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, determined only within-group improvement in lower limb muscle strength but not in muscle mass and composition in older subjects. Home confinement may partially explain the increase in total body fat due to a reduced daily PA regime and altered diet pattern.

Keywords: DXA; aging; exercise; magnetic resonance imaging; risk of fall; sarcopenia.

Figure 1

Participants flow diagram.

Figure 2

Total lean mass, total fat mass, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and cross-sectional area results. Values are expressed as mean ± 95% CI. Data were assessed by paired t-test (differences between PRE and POST within groups) and unpaired t-test (differences between groups). Level of significance was set at 0.05. The magnitude of changes was analyzed by Effect Size. EXE: experimental group; CON: control group; ASMMI: appendicular skeletal muscle mass index; p: p-value; ES: effect size.