Muscle function and functional ability improves more in community-dwelling older women with a mixed-strength training...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Supervised exercise programs have limited reach among the elderly population.
• Assessing the impact of long-term strength training on older adults is crucial for promoting healthy aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of a 1-year mixed-strength training intervention on muscle function (MF), functional ability (FA), and physical activity (PA) in individuals over 75 years old.
• To compare the outcomes between genders and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A 1-year mixed-strength training program involving twice-weekly hospital-based classes and weekly home sessions.
• Participants (28 trainees, 20 controls) aged over 75 performed exercises using multi-gym machines and elastic bands.
• Muscle function (e.g., isometric strength of knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors) and functional ability (e.g., chair rise, 6-minute walk test) were measured.

Main Results:

• Women exhibited significantly lower baseline muscle strength compared to men.
• The training program led to significant improvements in muscle function and functional ability in women.
• Men showed significant improvements in functional ability, with non-significant increases in physical activity for the entire training group.

Conclusions:

• Long-term mixed-strength training programs are effective in enhancing muscle function and functional ability in elderly females.
• These programs also demonstrate benefits for functional ability in elderly males.
• Strength training interventions can be tailored to improve physical capabilities in older adults.