The Frail-LESS study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reducing sarcopenia and maintaining independent living in frail older adults via reductions in sitting time: The Frail-LESS (LEss Sitting and Sarcopenia in Frail older adults) intervention
IRAS ID
290128
Contact name
Daniel Bailey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brunel University London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN17158017
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle and strength that happens as people get older. This can lead to people becoming frail, which makes it harder to do activities of daily living like getting up out of a chair. Reducing sitting time is linked to lower risk of sarcopenia. This study will test if it is possible to improve measures of sarcopenia and independent living in frail older adults with a new programme that targets reductions in sitting time. To do this, 60 frail older adults will be recruited and randomly chosen to receive the programme or continue with usual care for 6 months. Participants receiving the programme will get personalised feedback on how much they sit, education on the health risks of sitting too much, will set goals for reducing sitting, track their sitting using a wrist-worn device, and have support from a health coach. The programme will be delivered remotely using a combination of mail, internet and video or phone calls, dependent on each participant’s personal preference. All participants will have sarcopenia measured, which includes hand grip strength, amount of muscle in the body, balance, walking speed and how well they can get up out of a chair. They will also have sitting time measured using an activity monitor worn on the thigh for 7 days and complete questionnaires around health and wellbeing. They will do all of this before the programme starts and 3 and 6 months later. We will assess if it is possible to deliver the programme by seeing how many people volunteer to take part in the study, how many complete it and how many provide information on each of the measures we take. We will also talk to participants to see if they found the programme and the information we are collecting acceptable.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0107
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion