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Sarcopenia — the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength — is a significant concern in older populations, contributing to frailty, falls, and reduced quality of life. Exercise-based programmes such as the Otago Exercise Program are commonly recommended, but researchers wanted to know whether adding electroacupuncture could enhance outcomes further.
This 12-week randomised controlled trial enrolled 120 older adults diagnosed with sarcopenia, assigning them either to Otago Exercise Program alone or to Otago Exercise Program combined with electroacupuncture at four acupuncture points (Stomach 31, Stomach 32, Gallbladder 34, and Stomach 36). Electroacupuncture sessions were delivered three times per week alongside the five-times-weekly exercise programme. The primary outcome was appendicular skeletal muscle mass indexed to height squared, with grip strength, gait speed, and six-minute walk distance as secondary measures.
By week 12, the combined electroacupuncture plus Otago Exercise Program group showed significant improvements across all outcomes, including muscle mass, compared with the Otago Exercise Program-only group. Notably, the Otago Exercise Program-only group did not demonstrate a significant change in muscle mass, although both groups improved in strength and walking measures. No between-group differences were observed at the six-week mark, suggesting benefits from the combination accumulate over time.
Conclusion: This trial provides preliminary evidence that adding electroacupuncture to a structured exercise programme may offer additional benefits for muscle mass preservation in older adults with sarcopenia, though further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Source: Wu W, Cao Y, Zhang Y and colleagues. Medicine (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42175481) · doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000049033