Effectiveness of digital health exercise interventions for sarcopenia in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Sarcopenia is a significant health concern in older adults. Digital health exercise interventions have emerged as scalable solutions, but their efficacy on muscle function and physical performance remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of digital health exercise interventions on muscle strength, mass, and physical performance in older adults with possible, confirmed, or severe sarcopenia. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched 11 databases up to 1 October 2025 for randomized and controlled clinical trials. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tools (RoB 2 and ROBINS-I). The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were performed using RevMan software. Results Sixteen studies (n = 1,607 participants) were included. Meta-analysis revealed that, overall, digital interventions showed no significant benefit on appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (MD = 0.16kg/m ² , 95% CI [-0.03, 0.36]), the timed up-and-go test (SMD=-0.02, 95% CI [-0.40, 0.37]), or gait speed (SMD = 0.06, 95% CI [-0.44, 0.56]) compared to control conditions. Crucially, subgroup analyses revealed significant differential effects: combined digital health interventions (exercise plus nutrition) demonstrated superior improvements in handgrip strength (MD = 2.21 kg, 95% CI [1.33, 3.09]) and quality of life (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI [0.29, 1.01]) compared to controls. Furthermore, opposing effects on BMI were observed between exercise-focused and nutrition-focused interventions. The certainty of evidence for most outcomes was rated as low or very low. Conclusions Standalone digital health exercise interventions confer limited benefit on core sarcopenia outcomes. In contrast, comprehensive digital interventions that combine exercise with nutritional support show significant promise for improving muscle strength, muscle mass, and quality of life, representing the most promising avenue. The current evidence base is characterized by low certainty, underscoring the need for more methodologically rigorous trials with longer-term follow-up to confirm these findings and identify the most effective intervention components and target populations. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024516930