EFFECT OF PULMONARY REHABILITATION ON MUSCLE QUALITY INDEX IN THE ELDERLY WITH SARCOPENIA

Abstract

One of the most important changes occurring in aging is the loss of muscle mass, where muscle mass decreases
about 3% to 6% per decade. Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder involving the
accelerated loss of muscle mass and function. The prevalence of sarcopenia between the ages of 60-70 years is
between 5% to 13% and increases to between 11% to 50% at the age of 80.
Purpose: to study the effect of a 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on muscle quality index (MQI) in
the elderly with sarcopenia.Methods: 65 primary sarcopenic elderly subjects participated in the present study with
age (60-75 years) chosen from Dar Elshrouk nursing home. Muscle quality index were measured before and after
the pulmonary rehabilitation program. Pulmonary rehabilitation program included breathing exercises
(diaphragmatic breathing, costal breathing, pursed-lip breathing & exercise connected with respiration), in addition
to aerobic exercise including walking exercise (moderate intensity walking, walking heel to toe, sideways walking)
and strengthening exercise of upper limb and lower limb, 3sessions per week for 12 weeks. Results: there was
34.32% increase in MQI for all the subjectsand 25.74% decrease in Five times sit to stand for all
subjects.Conclusion: pulmonary rehabilitation program for elderly with sarcopenia improved the sarcopenic status,
exercise capacity, muscle strength, activities of daily living and health related quality of life.