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Introduction: The efficacy of existing therapies for the treatment of sarcopenia is still not satisfactory. Therefore, this randomized controlled, assessor-blinded study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture(EA) therapy in elderly patients with sarcopenia.
Methods and analysis: This randomized controlled trial will enroll 120 elderly patients with sarcopenia. Subjects will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either EA combined with rehabilitation training group or rehabilitation training group through a central computerized randomization system. Primary outcome measure is lower limb mobility, including 6-minute walk test、timed get up and go test, and short physical performance battery. Secondary outcome measures include lower limb muscle mass and lower limb muscle strength. Outcome assessment will be conducted before the intervention, at 12 weeks after the intervention and at the end of the 12-week follow-up. Adverse reactions will be evaluated during the trial.
Conclusion: This research will provide evidence to clarify whether EA is effective and safe in the treatment of sarcopenia.
Introduction: The efficacy of existing therapies for the treatment of sarcopenia is still not satisfactory. Therefore, this randomized controlled, assessor-blinded study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture(EA) therapy in elderly patients with sarcopenia.
Methods and analysis: This randomized controlled trial will enroll 120 elderly patients with sarcopenia. The experimental group is EA combined with rehabilitation training group, while the control group is rehabilitation training group. Rehabilitation training is the more recognized treatment method for sarcopenia all over the world. Eligible subjects will be randomly assigned to two group in a 1:1 allocation ratio. All participants will undergo 12 weeks of treatments in two groups. This protocol is based on the standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) and the SPIRIT reporting guidelines. Primary outcome measure is lower limb mobility, including 6-minute walk test、timed get up and go test, and short physical performance battery. Secondary outcome measures include lower limb muscle mass and lower limb muscle strength, such as lower extremity skeletal muscle mass、appendicular skeletal muscle mass、calf circumference、knee flexion and extension strength and grip strength. Outcome assessment will be conducted before the intervention, at 12 weeks after the intervention and at the end of the 12-week follow-up. Adverse reactions will be evaluated during the trial.
Conclusion: This research will provide evidence to clarify whether EA is effective and safe in the treatment of sarcopenia.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| electroacupuncture and rehabilitation training | Experimental | Participants in this group will received electroacupuncture（EA） combined with Otago exercise program(OEP). Acupuncture will be executed with size 0.30×40mm needle. EA will be performed with electronic acupuncture instruments |
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| rehabilitation training only | Active Comparator | The rehabilitation group will be only treated with the Otago exercise program(OEP). The Otago Exercise is a program developed by the research group of fall prevention in the elderly led by Campbell of Otago Medical University in the 1990s. It is a home exercise program aimed at strengthening lower extremity muscle, balance and preventing falls in the elderly. Otago Exercise combines resistance exercise, balance training and aerobic walking and is an exercise prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia (details are as follows). |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| electroacupuncture | Device | Participants are required to be in the supine position. Routine disinfection first. Participants are then subjected to acupuncture and achieve deqi sensation at all acupuncture points. Four paired of acupuncture points (i.e. Biguan acupoints and Futu points; Yanglingquan acupoints and Zusanli acupoints, identical on both sides) are connected to the EA devices. EA parameter is set as sparse wave and frequency is 2Hz. The intensity of the EA is determined by the patients' tolerance. Needles will be left in place and each session of EA will last 30 minutes. Participants will undergo a total of 36 EA sessions, with the frequency of 3 sessions every week for 12 weeks. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 6min walk test | The 6-min walking test setup is a straight line of 20 meters on a flat floor, and a chair is placed at each end as a sign. The subjects walk back and forth between them. The pace of walking is determined according to their own physical fitness, and they walk as fast as possible. In this way, the maximum walking distance that an individual can reach within 6 minutes will be texted | 12 weeks |
| time to get up and go(TGUG) | The TGUG test measures the time it takes for an individual to get up from a chair, complete a short 3 meters round-trip walk, and finally sit back in the chair. | 12 weeks |
| short physical performance battery (SPPB) | SPPB is a comprehensive test instrument that includes a walking speed test, a sit-to-stand test, and a balance test. The Walking Speed Test measures the time to pass a distance of 4 meters at daily walking speed. Sit-to-stand test is to calculate the time to complete 5 consecutive sets of getting up-sit down. The balance test includes 3 parts: 10 seconds for standing on the left and right side of both feet; standing on half front and half rear feet and standing on front and rear feet | 12 weeks |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| lower extremity skeletal muscle mass | The skeletal muscle mass of the lower limbs can be detected separately by applying the BCA body composition analyzer produced by Tsinghua Tongfang | 12 weeks |
| appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASMM) |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenzhe Wu, Master | Contact | 18757570729 | 2008777.1378@163.com |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Wenzhe Wu, Master | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Study Director |
| Ming Guo, Doctor | Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Recruiting | Hangzhou | Zhejiang | China |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41164821 | Derived | Wu W, Huang X, Fang L, Hu H, Han D. Electroacupuncture Plus Exercise for Sarcopenia in Older Adults: Protocol for a Randomized, Controlled, Assessor-Blinded Trial. Clin Interv Aging. 2025 Oct 23;20:1775-1786. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S545035. eCollection 2025. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D055948 | Sarcopenia |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D009133 | Muscular Atrophy |
| D020879 | Neuromuscular Manifestations |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D015671 | Electroacupuncture |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003131 | Combined Modality Therapy |
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
| D015670 | Acupuncture Therapy |
| D000529 | Complementary Therapies |
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| Rehabilitation Training | Behavioral | The rehabilitation training group will be only treated with the Otago exercise program(OEP). Otago Exercise combines resistance exercise, balance training and aerobic walking and is an exercise prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia.
|
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The BCA body composition analyzer produced by Tsinghua Tongfang can be used to directly test the skeletal muscle mass of the extremities.
| 12 weeks |
| calf circumference | Measured by applying a measuring tape horizontally around the circumference of the thickest part of the calf | 12 weeks |
| knee flexion and extension strength | The TB-ISO multi-joint isometric strength testing system (made in Italy) was applied to test the peak moment/peak moment body weight ratio, average power, and total work for the isometric exercise of knee flexion and knee extension, respectively. | 12 weeks |
| grip strength | grip strength was obtained by grip strength measurement | 12 weeks |
| Hantong Hu, Doctor | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Principal Investigator |
| Hong Gao, Master | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Principal Investigator |
| Jinkuo Pang, Bachelor | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Principal Investigator |
| Yanfei Cao, Master | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Principal Investigator |
| Yiting Zhang, Master | The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | Principal Investigator |
| D001284 | Atrophy |
| D020763 | Pathological Conditions, Anatomical |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D004599 |
| Electric Stimulation Therapy |
| D026741 | Physical Therapy Modalities |
| D012046 | Rehabilitation |
| D004561 | Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation |
| D000698 | Analgesia |
| D000760 | Anesthesia and Analgesia |
| D000758 | Anesthesia |