Background: Foam roller and vibration techniques are currently used to assist in recovery after fatigue. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the use of a foam roller with and without vibration on dynamic balance, ankle dorsiflexion, hamstring and lumbar spine flexibility and perceived knee and ankle stability after an induced fatigue protocol. Methods: A total of 24 healthy recreationally active participants (17 males and seven females) were recruited to a randomized cross over trial consisting of; no treatment (NT), foam roller treatment (FR) and vibration foam roller treatment (VFR). The assessments included; the Sit & Reach test, Y balance test and post-treatment perceived knee and ankle stability. Measurements were taken after a standardized warm up (baseline) and repeated following an exercise-induced muscle fatigue protocol consisting of repeated lunges until volitional fatigue. The three treatment conditions were assessed on three separate days in a randomized order. A 3 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate differences between the three treatments over the three time points and a one factor repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine any differences between treatments using the Global Rate of Change scale when considering perceived stability. Results: FR and VFR conditions both showed a greater ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) (p < 0.001), greater posteromedial and posterolateral reach distances (p < 0.001) and a better knee and ankle perceived stability (p < 0.001) when compared to the NT condition. A trend toward significance was observed in the hamstring and lumbar spine flexibility (p = 0.074) in both treatment conditions when compared to the NT condition. However, no differences were seen between the FR and VFR conditions. Conclusions: Both FR conditions seem to assist in exercise-induced muscle fatigue recovery with improvements in ROM, balance and perceived stability.

Resistance training is recommended for preventing sarcopenia, but the benefits for the quality and quantity of muscle mass are uncertain. To assess the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in women with sarcopenia. A researcher-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted. Community-dwelling older women with sarcopenia were randomized to six months of HIRT or a control group (CG). Body composition was assessed with bioimpedance equipment, and participants underwent strength and functional performance tests (short physical performance battery [SPPB] and gait speed). MRI scans of the thigh were taken to quantify muscle mass and quality. Thirty-eight women completed the study (20 in the HIRT group). Sarcopenia remitted in 50 % of the HIRT group. HIRT elicited a significant group × time interaction effect for muscle mass (p = 0.027; Ƞ² = 0.129), muscle mass index (p = 0.023; Ƞ² = 0.135), fat mass (p = 0.048; Ƞ² = 0.103) and all strength variables (p < 0.05; Ƞ² > 0.120). Moreover, the HIRT group obtained higher scores on the SPPB (mean difference [MD] 1.2; p = 0.005) and the 5 times sit-to-stand test (MD = 0.7; p = 0.009). Regarding MRI parameters, infiltrated microscopic fat decreased significantly (HIRT: MD = -0.01; p < 0.05), while hydration (T2) decreased in the CG (MD = 3.6 ms; p = 0.053) at six months. There were significant between-group differences at six months for water diffusion (HIRT: 1.09 × 10^-3 mm²/s vs CG: 1.26 × 10^-3 mm²/s) and total muscular volume (HIRT: 832.4 L vs CG: 649.2 L). HIRT led to the remission of sarcopenia in half of the older women, as seen in muscle mass, strength, and functional performance and MRI biomarkers, with significant increases in muscle quality. REGISTERED IN CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT03834558.

Ageing entails a decrease in muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, which also affects respiratory function. Physical exercise is an appropriate intervention to treat both conditions. This study aims to assess the efficacy of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) on clinical parameters of respiratory function and health-related quality of life (QoL) in community-dwelling older women with sarcopenia. Fifty-one sarcopenic community-dwelling women aged 70 years and older were randomized to either six months of HIRT (n = 24) or control (n = 27). At baseline and post-intervention, participants were assessed for skeletal-muscle sarcopenia; respiratory sarcopenia status; respiratory function: spirometry (FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC, and FEF_25-75) and expiratory (MEP) and inspiratory (MIP) respiratory muscle strength parameters; and health-related QoL (EURO-QOL 5D-3 L). A group-by-time interaction effect for MEP (p = 0.044, Ƞ²=0.108) was observed. CG showed a significant decrease in FEV₁ (mean difference [MD] -0.12 L; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.20, -0.05; p = 0.002); and FVC (MD -0.18 L; 95% CI -0.33, -0.03; p = 0.024) after six months, whereas the HIRT maintained respiratory function without change. Post-intervention, mean EQ-VAS increased in the HIRT and decreased in CG, resulting in a significant between-group difference (mean 73.0 standard deviation [SD] 16.99 vs 61.1 SD 18.2 points, respectively; p = 0.044). Respiratory sarcopenia status was reverted in the HIRT. HIRT increased muscle strength and halted age-related respiratory function decline in sarcopenic old women. A strength intervention could benefit health-related QoL and physical well-being. REGISTERED IN CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT03834558.

Background: The diagnosis of sarcopenia through clinical assessment has some limitations. The literature advises studies that include objective markers along with clinical assessment in order to improve the sensitivity and specificity of current diagnostic criteria. The decrease of muscle quality precedes the loss of quantity, so we studied the role magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers as indicators of the quantity and quality of muscle in sarcopenia patients. Methods: a cross-sectional analysis was performed to analyze what MR-derived imaging parameters correlate better with sarcopenia diagnostic criteria in women of 70 years of age and over (independent walking and community-dwelling women who were sarcopenic in accordance with EWGSOP criteria with muscle mass adjusted to Spanish population were chosen). Results: The study included 26 women; 81 ± 8 years old. A strong correlation was obtained between cineanthropometric variables (BMI; thigh perimeter and fat mass) and imaging biomarkers (muscle/fat ratio, fatty infiltration, muscle T2*, water diffusion coefficient, and proton density fat fraction) with coefficients around 0.7 (absolute value). Conclusions: Knowing the correlation of clinical parameters and imaging-derived muscle quality indicators can help to identify older women at risk of developing sarcopenia at an early stage. This may allow taking preventive actions to decrease disability, morbidity, and mortality in sarcopenia patients.

A study was made of the effect of the PROMUFRA multicomponent frailty program upon physical frailty, kinanthropometry, pain and muscle function parameters in frail and pre-frail community-dwelling older people. Eighty-one participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (IG) or control group (CG). The IG performed PROMUFRA for 20 weeks, using six strength exercises with three series of 8–12 repetitions until muscular failure, and seven myofascial exercises, with one set of 10 repetitions. The CG continued their routine. The frailty criteria number (FCN), kinanthropometric parameters and muscle function were measured at baseline and after the program. Between-group differences were found in the interaction for FCN, muscle mass, fat mass, skeletal muscle mass index, knee flexion range of motion (ROM), hip flexion with knee straight ROM, maximum isometric knee extension, maximum isotonic knee extension, maximum leg press and hand grip strength., and also on post-intervention frailty status. The IG showed a statistical trend towards decreased pain. In conclusion, the PROMUFRA program is a potential training approach that can bring benefits in physical frailty status, body composition, ROM and muscle function among frail or pre-frail community-dwelling older people.