Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40604455›Full record

Trial reportBMC geriatrics2025

Impact of wearable-assisted walking on sarcopenia and body composition in older adults.

Cheng-En Wu, Yankuba B Manga

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Effectiveness of digital health exercise interventions on muscle function and physical performance in older adults with possible, confirmed, or severe sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2026
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
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

2 authors.

Cheng-En WuOffice of Physical Education, Tamkang University, No. 151, Ying-Zhuan Rd, Tamshui, New Taipei City, 251301, Taiwan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3732-0759
Yankuba B MangaMaster Program in Smart Healthcare Management, International College of Sustainability Innovations, National Taipei University, New Taipei City, 23741, Taiwan. bydrmanga@gm.ntpu.edu.tw.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8750-3721

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical inactivity constitutes a global public health challenge, particularly among older adults. This study investigates the impact of a wearable device-assisted walking program on body composition, muscle strength, and sarcopenia in this population.

methodsEighty healthy older adults (40 men and 40 women), aged 65 and above, were randomly assigned to either an intervention (experimental) group, which participated in a structured walking program utilizing wearable devices, or a non-intervention (control) group, which maintained their habitual activities. The walking program spanned 12 weeks. Key assessments included body composition analysis, handgrip strength measurement, the 5× sit-to-stand test, and the appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI).

resultsThe intervention group exhibited significant improvements in body composition and muscle strength. Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) increased by 5.5% (95% CI: 4.2-6.8%), handgrip strength improved by 13.1% (95% CI: 10.6-15.6%, p < 0.05), and lower limb function improved by 10.5% (p < 0.05). ASMI proved to be an effective and accessible metric for sarcopenia assessment, demonstrating strong correlations with SMM, handgrip strength, and sit-to-stand performance.

conclusionsWearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, provide real-time feedback and enable tailored exercise recommendations, offering a practical and personalized strategy for mitigating sarcopenia. This study confirms that wearable-assisted walking programs effectively improve muscle health and functional performance in older adults, reinforcing their potential for promoting healthy aging.

Indexed as

Body CompositionSarcopeniaWalkingWearable Electronic DevicesAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHand StrengthHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthAging physiologyExercise therapyMuscle strengthPhysical inactivityWearable devices-assisted walking

Identifiers

PMID40604455
PMCPMC12219232

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.