Combined Exercise and Nutrition Intervention for Spinal Sarcopenia: a Pilot Study

Sarcopenia in the lumbar paraspinal muscles is receiving renewed attention as a cause of spinal degeneration. However, there were few studies on the precise concept and diagnostic criteria for spinal sarcopenia. We have already developed the concept of spinal sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and investigated the association between conventional sarcopenic indices and spinal sarcopenia. However, intervention studies on spinal sarcopenia have not been conducted until now. Here, we aim a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined exercise and nutrition intervention for spinal sarcopenia. This is a prospective study with 35 community-dwelling older women who were diagnosed as spinal sarcopenia in our previous cohort study. Combined intervention will consist of back extensor strengthening exercise and nutritional supplementation for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of this study is isometric back extensor strength after 12 weeks' intervention. All functional outcomes will be measured at 0, 12, and 24 weeks after intervention. The data will be analysed using the intention-to-treat principle.