Resistance exercise is the most potent non-medical treatment for combatting skeletal muscle deterioration and improving health-related quality of life.[1] It’s traditionally recommended that people perform 2–3 resistance training sessions per week using relatively heavy loads (i.e., 80% of 1-repetition maximum), but more recent evidence suggests that low-load resistance training (i.e., 35–50% of 1-repetition maximum) is similarly effective for increasing muscle mass and strength when performed to volitional fatigue.[2] A combined resistance training and high-protein diet intervention seems to be more effective than either intervention alone.[3]
Are there any other treatments for sarcopenia?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Resistance exercise is the most effective nonmedical treatment for sarcopenia, and 2 to 3 sessions per week using heavy loads or low-load training to volitional fatigue are recommended. Additionally, combining resistance training with a high-protein diet enhances effectiveness compared to either intervention alone.