A12. Effects of Modified-OTAGO on Body Composition in Older Adults during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is characterized by an unavoidable decline in body composition, including changes in muscle mass, muscle quality, and adiposity. These compartments contribute to falls, a major health issue that causes serious injuries and death. The COVID-19 outbreak causes long-term quarantine, which limits outdoor activity leading to physical inactivity. As a result, it worsens body composition declination, raising the risk of falls. The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is widely used to prevent falls. However, it is time-consuming and requires additional walks to get better efficacy. 

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of modified-OEP on body composition in community-dwelling older adults.      

Methods: This study was a double-blinded randomized control trial. Participants aged 60-80-year-olds were randomly assigned to the modified-OEP or control group. The modified OEP group performed a 60-minute session consisting of 40-minutes OEP and 20-minutes walking, while no intervention was assigned to the control group. Body composition was assessed before and 6 weeks after intervention using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Repeated measures two-way ANOVA was employed for statistical analysis.

Results: After 6 weeks of interventions, the modified-OEP group had a significant decrease in leg fat mass (p = 0.0008), total fat mass (p= 0.0036), and total tissue percent fat (p = 0.0320). These observations were not observed in the control group, indicating the efficacy of the modified-OEP. In comparison between groups, the modified-OEP did not show a statistical difference from the control. However, we observed an improvement trend in lean mass and fat-free.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that the modified-OEP can significantly reduce fat in as little as six weeks. Further investigation should explore the long-term efficacy of such a program.