Background/Objectives: Rapid population aging has increased the need for effective sarcopenia management. Physical therapists are expected to play a key role in screening and intervention. This study aimed to assess sarcopenia awareness, current clinical practice, and barriers among Korean physical therapists to inform future education and policy improvements. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Korea from 14 August to 31 December 2025. The questionnaire was developed through a two-step process, including a qualitative survey and cognitive interviews with physical therapists, and consisted of items on demographics, sarcopenia knowledge, screening, treatment, and care environment factors. Results: A total of 236 participants were included in the analysis. Although awareness of sarcopenia was high, implementation in clinical practice remained limited. Most participants were familiar with sarcopenia and considered it important in patient management, yet only 16.9% reported screening for sarcopenia and 23.7% reported providing treatment. Among those who performed screening, half were unsure which guideline was being followed. Resistance exercise was the most commonly used intervention, whereas nutritional support was the most frequently identified additional need. Collaboration with nutrition professionals was rare, and fewer than half reported team-based treatment. The main barriers were lack of knowledge, lack of workplace training, and limited exposure to internal sarcopenia-related education. Conclusions: Despite high awareness, sarcopenia-related practice among Korean physical therapists remained limited. These findings highlight the need for standardized screening and treatment guidelines, structured continuing education programs, workplace-based training opportunities, and reimbursement policies that support routine sarcopenia screening and management.
Lim et al. (Wed,) studied this question.