Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41566419›Full record

ReviewEuropean review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity2026

Optimizing prescription of resistance training for body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhiyuan Tan, Yang Jiang, Darren G Candow, Carlo Castagna, Xiaolong Wang, Huakun Zheng

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zhiyuan Tan *University of Belgrade, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Belgrade, Serbia. zhiyuan_5016@studentmail.fsfv.bg.ac.rs.
Yang Jiang *Yunnan Normal University, School of Physical Education, Kunming, China.
Darren G CandowUniversity of Regina, Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies, Regina, Canada.
Carlo CastagnaDepartment of Education and Sport Sciences, Pegaso Telematic University, Naples, Italy.
Xiaolong WangChina University of Geosciences, School of Physical Education, Wuhan, China.
Huakun ZhengShanghai University of Sport, School of Exercise And Health, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to address key gaps in understanding the role of resistance training (RT) as an intervention to mitigate age-related sarcopenia. Specifically, it examined: (i) effects on body composition and physical performance; (ii) moderating influences of age and training intensity; and (iii) the presence of a dose-response relationship within the FITT-VP framework.

methodsA comprehensive search of multiple databases identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating RT in older adults with sarcopenia. Data on body composition, muscle strength (MS), and functional performance were extracted. Moderator analyses assessed the impact of participant and intervention characteristics, and meta-regression was performed to explore dose-response patterns.

resultsTwenty-five RCTs involving 1,302 participants were included. RT produced significant improvements in MS (ES = 0.71), lean mass (LM, [ES = 0.22]), fat mass (FM, [ES = - 0.17]), walking ability (WA, [ES = 0.41]), grip strength ([GS, [ES = 0.55]), muscle quality (MQ, [ES = 1.25]) (all p < 0.05), but this large effect size was based on only two studies and requires caution interpretation. Dose-response meta-regression revealed a significant non-linear relationship between total RT duration and functional gains, with optimal estimated cumulative volumes of ~ 2,716 min for WA.

conclusionRT is a robust, evidence-based strategy for enhancing MS, functional performance, and body composition in sarcopenic older adults. Findings suggest approximate cumulative duration ranges (~ 1,043 min for MS and ~ 2,716 min for WA) that were associated with maximal gains in pooled analyses. These values should be interpreted as exploratory indicators supporting individualized programming within the FITT-VP framework. Clinicians and exercise practitioners should tailor intensity (60-80% 1RM), frequency, and progression to optimize adherence, effectiveness, and long-term functional outcomes in sarcopenia management.

Indexed as

Aging populationExercise therapyHand strengthPostural balanceRandomized controlled trialsRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID41566419
PMCPMC12908291

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.