Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Is exercise used as medicine? Association of meeting strength training guidelines and functional limitations among
Jennifer L Kraschnewski1, Christopher N Sciamanna1, Joseph T Ciccolo2
1Department of Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, United States; Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, United States.
Objective:
To determine the association between meeting strength training guidelines (≥2 times per week) and the presence of functional limitations among older adults.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study used data from older adult participants (N=6763) of the National Health Interview Survey conducted in 2011 in the United States.
Results:
Overall, 16.1% of older adults reported meeting strength training guidelines. For each of nine functional limitations, those with the limitation were less likely to meet strength training recommendations than those without the limitation. For example, 20.0% of those who reported no difficulty walking one-quarter mile met strength training guidelines, versus only 10.1% of those who reported difficulty (p<.001). In sum, 21.7% of those with no limitations (33.7% of sample) met strength training guidelines, versus only 15.9% of those reporting 1-4 limitations (38.5% of sample) and 9.8% of those reporting 5-9 limitations (27.8% of sample) (p<.001).
Conclusion:
Strength training is uncommon among older adults and even less common among those who need it the most. The potential for strength training to improve the public's health is therefore substantial, as those who have the most to gain from strength training participate the least.
