THE EFFECTS OF STRENGTH CONDITIONING ON OLDER WOMENS ABILITY TO PERFORM DAILY TASKS

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a strength-training program on walking speed and relative muscular stress, as measured by normalized integrated electromyographic (nIEMG ) activity, while carrying a box of groceries and standing from a chai r. DESIGN: Prospective intervention study. SETTING: Volunteer subjects from the community of Birmingham, Alabama. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen hea lthy women aged 60 to 77 years. INTERVENTION: Sixteen weeks of total b ody strength conditioning. MEASUREMENTS: Before and after 16 weeks of strength conditioning, the following variables were evaluated for all subjects: (1) strength, six isotonic tests and two isometric tests; (2 ) walking velocity; (3) nIEMG of the biceps while carrying a box of gr oceries; and (4) nIEMG of the rectus femoris while standing from a cha ir. MAIN RESULTS: After the strength training program, subjects' isoto nic strength increased significantly, an average of 52% on the isotoni c tests and 31% on the isometric tests. Walking velocity also increase d significantly (18%). nIEMG of the biceps decreased 36% while carryin g a box of groceries. Rectus femoris nIEMG decreased 40% while standin g and 47% while sitting. CONCLUSIONS: After strength conditioning, hea lthy older women showed not only substantially increased strength but also improvements in walking velocity and the ability to carry out dai ly tasks such as rising from a chair and carrying a box of groceries.