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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Isokinetic strength benefits after 24 weeks of multicomponent exercise training and combined exercise training in
Joana Carvalho1, Elisa Marques, José M C Soares
1Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, Portugal. jcarvalho@fade.up.pt
Background And Aims:
Studies that have attempted to address the influence of exercise programs on muscle strength have usually analyzed single exercise training types. They have not often addressed multicomponent exercise interventions that combine strength, flexibility, balance and aerobic training. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare improvements in muscle strength induced by 24 weeks of two training regimens in elderly adults aged 65-82 years.
Methods:
Participants underwent a multicomponent exercise program (ME, n=25, 69.4+/-4.1 yrs) or combined ME plus resistance training (CE, n=24, 68.7+/-4.2 yrs). Maximum strength of knee extensors (KE) and flexors (KF) was measured at 60 masculine/s and 180 masculine/s with an isokinetic dynamometer before and 12 and 24 weeks after the training programs.
Results:
The CE group showed a significant increase in maximum voluntary knee extensors (22.3%, p<0.001) and knee flexors (29.6%, p<0.001) at 180 masculine/s in the non-dominant leg, in knee extensor torque at 60 masculine/s in the dominant (6.7%, p=0.023) and non-dominant leg (17.3%, p<0.001) and in knee flexor torque at 60 masculine/s in dominant (16.4%, p=0.020) and non-dominant leg (24.2%, p<0.001). No significant changes were observed in the ME group after 24 weeks of training.
Conclusions:
The present study indicates that twice-weekly ME has a limited effect on isokinetic muscle strength. Our results also emphasize that adding moderate intensity resistance exercise twice a week to a ME protocol is sufficient to induce higher and significant strength improvements in healthy older subjects.
