Journal of Evidence-based Medicine · Mar 2026
Guidelines for Rehabilitation Interventions in Older Adults With Sarcopenia (2025 Edition)
By Li Y, Wang S, Wang X et al.
Sarcopenia is a progressive, generalized skeletal muscle disease closely associated with increased risks of falls, disability, and mortality. It imposes a substantial disease burden on the elderly population in China. Current clinical practice lacks systematic, standardized protocols for the screening, assessment, and rehabilitation of sarcopenia grounded in high‑quality evidence. To address this gap, this guideline was developed through the joint efforts of the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, the Chinese Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and a multidisciplinary panel of experts. Following evidence‑based guideline development methodology, it focused on 23 clinical questions covering rehabilitation assessment, prevention, exercise, nutrition, rehabilitation techniques, and implementation strategies for sarcopenia. A total of 58 recommendations were formulated through systematic evidence retrieval, evidence grading, and multiple rounds of expert consensus. This guideline provides rehabilitation physicians, physiotherapists and relevant personnel with systematic, evidence‑based guidance to improve standardized rehabilitation assessment and comprehensive intervention. It identifies future research needs to advance sarcopenia management in older adults in China.