Blood Flow Restriction Training for Age-Related Sarcopenia

Brief Title: Safe Exercise for Age-Related Muscle Loss in Hospitalized Seniors

Summary:

This study compares two exercise methods to help older hospital patients (age 65+) rebuild muscle strength after being diagnosed with sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). We want to know if using special pressure cuffs during light exercise works better than traditional strength training alone.

Who Can Join:

Hospitalized seniors with stable health conditions Excludes those with severe disabilities, dementia, or certain blood circulation problems

What We'll Do:

40 participants will be randomly assigned to either:

Traditional Training Group:

Uses weights/bands at 65-75% max capacity Arm/leg exercises 3x/week for 4 weeks

Pressure Cuff Training Group:

Uses special cuffs on arms/thighs during lighter exercises (20% max capacity) Same exercise frequency with controlled pressure for safety

What We'll Measure:

Handgrip strength (main test at 0/4/12 weeks) Walking speed, balance tests, quality of life surveys Any side effects like dizziness/nausea

Safety First:

Doctors will check your health before starting. Nurses will monitor every session. We use medical-grade cuffs with safe pressure limits (arm: 80-100mmHg, thigh: 150-200mmHg). You can stop anytime if uncomfortable.

Why This Matters:

This could help hospitalized seniors regain strength faster using gentler exercises. All activities are supervised by rehabilitation specialists at West China Hospital, with ethics committee approval (IRB number required).