N. Mccartney et al., LONG-TERM RESISTANCE TRAINING IN THE ELDERLY - EFFECTS ON DYNAMIC STRENGTH, EXERCISE CAPACITY, MUSCLE, AND BONE, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 50(2), 1995, pp. 97-104
We examined the effects of 42 weeks of progressive weight-lifting trai
ning on dynamic muscle strength, peak power output in cycle ergometry,
symptom limited endurance during progressive treadmill walking and st
air climbing, knee extensor cross-sectional areas, and bone mineral de
nsity and content in healthy males and females aged 60-80 years, curre
ntly enrolled in a 2-year resistance training program. Subjects were r
andomized into either exercise (EX) or control (CON) groups (60-70 yea
rs: 38 males and 36 females; 70-80 years: 25 males and 43 females). EX
trained several muscle groups twice per week for 42 weeks at intensit
ies ranging from 50-80% of the load that they could lift once only (1
RM); CON did usual daily activities. After the 10 months there teas no
change in 1 RM strength in CON, but significant gains (mean increases
up to 65%) in EX (no independent age or gender effects); 30% and 47%
of the increase in 1 RM had occurred by 6 and 12 weeks, respectively.
In EX, the 7.1% increase in peak cycling power output was significantl
y greater than in CON (+1.1%). The 17.8% improvement in symptom limite
d treadmill walking endurance was also greater than in CON (+3.4%), bu
t the difference between groups during stair climbing was not signific
ant (EX + 57%, CON + 33%). The cross-sectional areas of the knee exten
sors increased significantly by 5.5% in EX but were unchanged in CON.
There were no changes in bone mineral density or content in either gro
up. We conclude that long-term resistance training in older people is
feasible and results in increases in dynamic muscle strength, muscle s
ize, and functional capacity.