A Pilot Community-based Intervention for Sarcopenia Prevention: Outcomes of the OPA-OMA Program in Urban Elderly Populations

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical performance, leading to increased morbidity and functional decline in older adults. Early prevention through community-based interventions is essential to reduce its impact. The OPA-OMA program was developed as a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) initiative to prevent sarcopenia among urban elderly populations in Jakarta, Indonesia. Subjects and Methods: This pilot pre–post-intervention study was conducted over 3 months in several community health centers within the Taman Sari District, Jakarta. Forty-one participants aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled. The OPA-OMA program consisted of biweekly group education sessions, structured physical exercise, nutritional counseling, acupressure training, and psychological support. Participants performed home-based aerobic, strengthening, flexibility, and balance exercises. Primary outcomes included muscle mass, short physical performance battery (SPPB) scores, and SARC-F scores. Secondary outcomes were blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and body weight. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Pre- and postintervention data were analyzed using paired statistical tests. Results: After 3 months, participants showed improvements in physical performance, reflected by increased SPPB scores and decreased SARC-F scores. Muscle mass demonstrated a favorable trend following the intervention. Improvements were also observed in several secondary health parameters, including blood pressure and metabolic indicators. Conclusion: The OPA-OMA program is a feasible CBR approach that may improve physical performance and reduce sarcopenia risk in urban elderly populations. Community-level, multicomponent interventions may play an important role in promoting healthy aging.