This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design with a pre-post design to investigate the combined effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Low-Intensity Resistance Training (LIRT) on muscle strength, muscle girth, and physical endurance in the geriatric population. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group.
* Informed Consent: Obtain informed consent from participants before starting the study. 2\. Demographic Data Collection: Collect demographic data, including age, sex, height, weight, and medical history. 3\. Muscle Strength Assessment: Measure muscle strength using a dynamometer (e.g., handgrip strength or knee extension strength). 4\. Muscle Girth Measurement: Measure muscle girth using a flexible measuring tape (e.g., mid-upper arm or thigh circumference). 5\. 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT): Conduct the 6MWT to assess physical endurance. Intervention 1. NMES Sessions: Administer NMES sessions 2-3 times a week for 4-5 weeks. 2. LIRT Sessions: Conduct LIRT exercises 2-3 times a week for 4-5weeks, targeting major muscle groups of upper and lower limb.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
44
Prior to the initiation of resistance training, participants will receive 20 minutes of NMES targeting the gastrocnemius and calf muscles Frequency: 35 Hz Pulse duration: 300 µs Following NMES, participants will undergo a 20-minute LIRT session comprising the following exercises:
Seated Leg Press with Thera Band Resistance (Sole Support Position) Participants will be seated with a Thera Band looped around the soles of their feet and held in the hands to provide resistance during leg extension. Repetitions: 10 Sets: 3 Rest Interval: 30-60 seconds between sets
Unnamed facility
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
RECRUITINGManual muscle testing (MMT) for strength measurement
Muscle strength will be assessed using Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) of the plantar flexors and knee extensors based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) 0-5 grading scale. Each muscle group will be tested twice on the dominant side, and the higher grade will be recorded. Participants with grades ≤3 will be classified as having low muscle strength, while those with grades ≥4 will be considered to have sufficient strength for participation in low-intensity resistance training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). MMT is a reliable and widely used clinical method for muscle strength assessment
Time frame: baseline to 4 week
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