Mixed
Exercise interventions significantly improve muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia, but do not significantly increase muscle mass.
If you have sarcopenia, regular exercise (30-80 minutes, 1-5 times a week for at least 6 weeks) will likely make you stronger and improve your walking speed and balance. However, do not expect exercise alone to significantly increase your muscle size; combining exercise with nutrition (like protein) may be necessary for mass gain.
Exercise programs showed overall significant positive effects on muscle strength and physical performance but not on muscle mass in sarcopenic older adults.
Why this rating
Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 RCTs/controlled trials with 1041 participants, though heterogeneity was high.
Source
Exercise Programs for Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength and Physical Performance in Older Adults with Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Wangxiao Bao et al. · Aging and Disease · 2020
DOI 10.14336/ad.2019.1012
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