Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Prolonged strength training in older patients after hip fracture: a randomised controlled trial
Hilde Sylliaas1, Therese Brovold, Torgeir Bruun Wyller
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Kirkeveien 170, Oslo 0470, Norway. Hilde.Sylliaas@hioa.no
Objective:
the aim of this study was to assess the effect of a 12-week once-a-week prolonged strength-training programme in a group of home-dwelling older hip fracture patients.
Design:
randomised, controlled; single-blind parallel-group trial.
Setting:
intervention at outpatient's clinic.
Subjects:
95 patients with surgical fixation for a hip fracture completed a preceding 3-month progressive strength-training programme twice a week.
Methods:
the programme comprised four exercises, performed at 80% of maximum capacity. Measurements were taken after 12 weeks of intervention. Outcome measurements were Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the sit-to-stand test, timed up-and-go test, maximal gait speed, 6-min walk test, Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale and the Short Form-12 questionnaire.
Results:
we found no statistically significant difference between groups in the primary outcome BBS, presumably because of a ceiling effect. The intervention group showed significant improvements in strength, gait speed and gait distance, instrumental activities of daily living and self-rated health.
Conclusions:
twelve weeks of progressive strength training performed once a week, as a follow-up to a more intensive training period, seemed to improve strength and endurance and resulted in better self-reported NEADL and self-rated health after hip fracture. Hip fracture patients seem to constitute a group that needs long-term follow-up to achieve the improvements necessary for independent functioning.
