SHBC1706

S.Y.LEE¹, A.GOH², K.TAN², P.L.CHOO¹, P.H.ONG¹, A.W.P.WONG¹, S.L.WEE¹

Singapore Institute of Technology¹, Pulse Sync Pte Ltd²

Resistance training attenuates the age-associated loss in muscle mass, strength and function in older adults. We evaluated the effectiveness of a multi-site community-delivered 12-week pneumatic-resistance programme (Gym Tonic(GT)) on muscle strength and physical function in older adults.

318 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65years were randomized into 12-week (twice/week) coach-supervised-community-based-GT-programme(n=168) and wait-list control groups(n=150). After 12 weeks, the intervention group continued with GT-training and the control group received supervised-GT-programme for further 12 weeks (partial-crossover-design). Body composition, Fried frailty score, lower-extremity muscle strength and physical function (i.e., fast and habitual gait-speed, balance, repeated-chair-sit-to-stand, short physical performance battery(SPPB)) were determined at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. Analysis adopted a modified-intention-to-treat-approach.

After 12 weeks, lower-extremity muscle strength improved by 11–26%(p<0.05) and fast gait-speed improved by 7%(p=0.008) in GT-intervention group(n=132) than controls(n=118), regardless of frailty status. Body composition and other physical function performance did not differ between groups after 12weeks(p>0.05). Frailty score improved by 0.5 in the intervention but not control group(p=0.004). Within the intervention group, lower-extremity muscle strength and physical function outcomes improved at 24 weeks compared with baseline(all p<0.001). Within controls, lower-extremity muscle strength, SPPB, repeated-chair-sit-to-stand and fast gait-speed improved post-GT(24-week) compared to both pre-GT(12-week) and baseline. Programme adherence was high in intervention[0–12-weeks,90%(SD,13%); 12–24-weeks,89%(SD,17%)] and control[12–24-weeks,90%(SD,19%)] groups.

Community-delivered GT pneumatic resistance training programme has high adherence, improves muscle strength and fast gait-speed, and can be effectively implemented at scale for older adults. The addition of other multi-modal function-specific training may complement GT and achieve better physical/functional performance in power, balance and endurance tasks.