Chitjamnogchai Chanakan, Yuenyongchaiwat Kornanong, Sermsinsaithong Natsinee, Tavonudomgit Wararat, Mahawong Lucksanaporn, Buranapuntalug Sasipa, Thanawattano Chusak
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, 99 Moo 18, Paholyothin Road, Klong Luang, Rangsit 12120, Thailand.
Thammasat University Research Unit, Physical Therapy in Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
Life (Basel). 2025 Jun 20;15(7):986. doi: 10.3390/life15070986.
: Sarcopenia is characterized by low muscle mass and strength, as well as impaired physical performance. Older adults with sarcopenia experience decreased cardiorespiratory fitness. Physical exercise is recommended for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Virtual reality (VR) exercise was introduced to improve physical activity. However, the effect of VR on cardiorespiratory function in older adults with sarcopenia has not been fully explored. This study aimed to explore the effects of home-based VR aerobic exercise combined with resistive exercise on cardiorespiratory performance in community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia. : In a randomized controlled trial, 53 older adults with sarcopenia were divided into a home-based VR (n = 26) and a control group (CG; n = 27). The VR program combined aerobic and resistance exercises, performed three times per week for 12 weeks, while the CG received knowledge regarding the benefit of exercise and continued with their regular daily activities. All participants were required to undergo respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity tests before and after the 12-week intervention. Two-way mixed repeated ANOVA was conducted to compare within and between groups in cardiorespiratory performance. : The home-based VR exercise group showed significant improvement in pre-post (i.e., maximal inspiratory pressure (12.96 ± 1.49 cmHO), maximal expiratory pressure (13.73 ± 1.72 cmHO), functional capacity (28.32 ± 3.48 m), and between-group (maximal expiratory pressure (F (1,51) = 10.446, = 0.002, np = 0.170). In contrast, the CG displayed a reduction in maximal expiratory pressure (-3.93 ± 1.69 cmHO, = 0.024) and functional capacity (-10.39 ± 3.42 m, = 0.004) after the 12-week program. : The home-based VR program provides older adults with sarcopenia an alternative exercise modality that can improve their cardiovascular performance.
肌肉减少症的特征是肌肉质量和力量低下，以及身体机能受损。患有肌肉减少症的老年人心肺功能下降。建议进行体育锻炼以预防和治疗肌肉减少症。引入虚拟现实（VR）锻炼以改善身体活动。然而，VR对患有肌肉减少症的老年人心肺功能的影响尚未得到充分研究。本研究旨在探讨居家VR有氧运动结合抗阻运动对社区居住的患有肌肉减少症的老年人心肺功能的影响。：在一项随机对照试验中，53名患有肌肉减少症的老年人被分为居家VR组（n = 26）和对照组（CG；n = 27）。VR方案结合了有氧运动和抗阻运动，每周进行三次，共12周，而CG组接受有关运动益处的知识并继续其日常常规活动。所有参与者在12周干预前后都需要进行呼吸肌力量和功能能力测试。进行双向混合重复方差分析以比较组内和组间的心肺功能。：居家VR运动组在干预前后显示出显著改善（即最大吸气压力（12.96±1.49 cmH₂O）、最大呼气压力（13.73±1.72 cmH₂O）、功能能力（28.32±3.48 m）），并且在组间（最大呼气压力（F（1,51）= 10.446，p = 0.002，ηp² = 0.170））也有改善。相比之下，CG组在12周方案后最大呼气压力降低（-3.93±1.69 cmH₂O，p = 0.024），功能能力降低（-10.39±3.42 m，p = 0.004）。：居家VR方案为患有肌肉减少症 的老年人提供了一种替代运动方式，可以改善他们的心血管功能。
