Objective: To determine whether frail elderly patients recuperating from ac
ute illnesses could safely participate in and gain appreciable improvement
in muscle strength from progressive resistance muscle strength training.
Design: Muscle strength tone repetition maximum), functional abilities (sit
-to-stand maneuver and 20-sec maximal safe gait speed), and body compositio
n were measured before and at the conclusion of a IO-wk program of lower li
mb progressive resistance muscle strength training. The nonrandomized study
was conducted in a 30-bed geriatric rehabilitation unit of a university-af
filiate Veterans Affairs hospital and a 28-bed transitional care unit of a
community nursing home. Participants included 19 recuperating elderly subje
cts (14 male, 5 female; 13 ambulatory, 6 nonambulatory) > 64 yr (mean age,
82.8 +/- 7.9 yr),
Results: The one repetition maximum increased an average of 74% +/- 49% (me
dian, 70%; interquartile range, 38%-95%, and an average of 20 +/- 13 kg (P
= 0.0001). Sit-to-stand maneuver times improved in 15 of 19 cases (79%). Ma
ximum safe gait speeds improved in 10 of 19 cases (53%). Four of the six no
nambulatory subjects progressed to ambulatory status. No subject experience
d a complication.
Conclusions: A carefully monitored program of progressive resistance muscle
strength training to regain muscle strength is a safe and possibly effecti
ve method for frail elderly recuperating from acute illnesses. A randomized
control study is needed to examine the degree to which progressive resista
nce muscle strength training offers advantages, if any, over routine postho
spital care that includes traditional low-intensity physical therapy.