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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Increases in thigh muscle volume and strength by walk training with leg blood flow reduction in older participants
Hayao Ozaki1, Mikako Sakamaki, Tomohiro Yasuda
1Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. ozaki.hayao@gmail.com
Abstract:
We examined the effects of walk training combined with leg blood flow reduction (BFR) on muscle hypertrophy as well as on peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) in older individuals. Both the BFR walk training (BFR-Walk, n = 10, age; 64 ± 1 years, body mass index [BMI]; 22.5 ± 0.9 kg/m²) and control walk training (CON-Walk, n = 8, age; 68 ± 1 years, BMI; 23.2 ± 1.0 kg/m²) groups performed 20 minutes of treadmill walking at an exercise intensity of 45% of heart rate reserve, 4 days per week, for 10 weeks. The BFR-Walk group wore pressure belts (160-200 mm Hg) on both legs during training. After the training, magnetic resonance imaging-measured thigh muscle cross-sectional area (3.1%, p < .01) and muscle volume (3.7%, p < .01) as well as maximal isometric (5.9%, p < .05) and isokinetic (up to 22%, p < .01) strength increased in the BFR-Walk group, but not in the CON-Walk group. Estimated VO₂ peak during a bicycle graded exercise test increased (p < .05) and correlated with oxygen pulse in both groups. In conclusion, BFR walk training improves both muscle volume and strength in older women.
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