Revista JRG de Estudos Acadêmicos · Oct 20, 2026
The influence of physical therapy on physical performance and postural balance in sarcopenic older adults
By Neto GXA, Lino JVG
Sarcopenia reduces muscle strength, mobility, and the ability to respond to imbalances, increasing functional dependence and the risk of falls in older adults. This integrative review analyzed the influence of physical therapy on physical performance and postural balance in sarcopenic older adults. The PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases were searched for publications between 2020 and 2025 using descriptors related to sarcopenia, physical therapy, therapeutic exercise, postural balance, gait, and physical performance. The selection followed the PRISMA 2020 steps. Of the 315 records identified, 187 remained after removing duplicates, 37 were evaluated in full text, and 10 comprised the synthesis. The studies investigated resistance exercises, multicomponent programs, balance training, home-based exercises, concurrent training, elastic bands, suspension, and blood flow restriction. Overall, the interventions improved handgrip strength and lower limb strength, gait speed, the Short Physical Performance Battery, the Timed Up and Go, the six-minute walk test, and postural control. Programs that combined strength, balance, mobility, and an aerobic component showed consistent functional outcomes, whereas changes in muscle mass and reduction in falls were less uniform. It is concluded that physical therapy has a favorable influence on physical performance and balance in sarcopenic older adults, particularly when the prescription is progressive, multicomponent, and adapted to clinical capacity. Protocol heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit the definition of a single exercise dose.