EFFECTS OF STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE TRAINING ON ISOMETRIC MUSCLE STRENGTH AND WALKING SPEED IN ELDERLY WOMEN

The separate effects of 18 weeks of intensive strength and endurance t raining on isometric knee extension (KE) and flexion (KF) strength and walking speed were studied in 76- to 78-year-old women. Maximal volun tary isometric force for both KE and KF was measured in a sitting posi tion on a custom-made dynamometer chair at a knee angle of 60 degrees from full extension. Maximal walking speed was measured over a distanc e of 10 m. The endurance-trained women increased KE torque and KE torq ue/body mass after the first 9 weeks of training when compared with th e controls. When comparing the baseline. 9 week and 18 week measuremen ts within the groups separately, both the endurance- and strength-trai ning groups increased KE torque. KE torque/body mass and walking speed . Individual changes in KE torque/body mass before and after 18 weeks of training averaged 19.1% in the strength group. 30.9% in the enduran ce group and 2.0% in the controls. This study indicates that in elderl y women the effects of physical training on muscle strength and walkin g speed occur after endurance as well as strength training. The consid erable interindividual variation in change of muscle performance is al so worth noticing.