Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Muscle architecture and strength: adaptations to short-term resistance training in older adults
Tyler C Scanlon1, Maren S Fragala, Jeffrey R Stout
1Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA.
Introduction:
Muscle morphology and architecture changes in response to 6 weeks of progressive resistance training were examined in healthy older adults.
Methods:
In this randomized, controlled design, muscle strength, quality, and architecture were evaluated with knee extension, DEXA, and ultrasound, respectively, in 25 older adults.
Results:
Resistance training resulted in significant increases in strength and muscle quality of 32% and 31%, respectively. Cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis increased by 7.4% (p ≤ 0.05). Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) of the thigh, a composite measure of muscle architecture, was related significantly to strength (r = 0.57; p ≤ 0.01) and demonstrated a significant interaction after training (p ≤ 0.05). Change in PCSA of the vastus lateralis was associated with change in strength independent of any other measure.
Conclusions:
Six weeks of resistance training was effective at increasing strength, muscle quality, and muscle morphology in older adult men and women.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Cellular Adaptation I: Introduction and Atrophy
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...

