Efficacy on Walking Ability of Electroacupuncture Therapy in Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia

Participants are required to be in the supine position. Routine disinfection first. Participants are then subjected to acupuncture and achieve deqi sensation at all acupuncture points. Four paired of acupuncture points (i.e. Biguan acupoints and Futu points; Yanglingquan acupoints and Zusanli acupoints, identical on both sides) are connected to the EA devices. EA parameter is set as sparse wave and frequency is 2Hz. The intensity of the EA is determined by the patients' tolerance. Needles will be left in place and each session of EA will last 30 minutes. Participants will undergo a total of 36 EA sessions, with the frequency of 3 sessions every week for 12 weeks.

"The rehabilitation training group will be only treated with the Otago exercise program(OEP). Otago Exercise combines resistance exercise, balance training and aerobic walking and is an exercise prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia.~1. Exercise: including warm-up exercise (5 minutes) + resistance exercise (20 minutes) + balance training (5 minutes). Training intensity: 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, once every other day, 12 weeks of training period; resistance exercise gradually increases the load.~2. Walking program: Take a walk. Activity intensity: 30 minutes each time, 2 times a week, combined with exercise (walking during the interval between exercise sessions), 12 weeks of training period"