Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Flywheel resistance training and depressive symptoms in older women: a randomized controlled trial
Édison Andrés Pérez Bedoya1,2, Luisa Fernanda Puerta-López3, Pablo Augusto Garcia Agostinho2
1Bachelor of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Antioquia Institute of Technology-University Institution, Medellín, Colombia.
Objectives:
This randomized controlled trial compared flywheel-based resistance training with traditional resistance training on depressive symptoms in sedentary older women.
Method:
Twenty-nine women aged ≥60 years without clinical depression were randomized (blocks of 2 and 4) to flywheel (n = 14) or traditional resistance training (n = 15) for 8 weeks (six exercises, twice weekly) at the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil. Flywheel devices provide inertial resistance and eccentric overload by storing and releasing kinetic energy. Depressive symptoms were the primary outcome. Allocation was concealed with sealed envelopes; outcome assessors and the principal investigator were blinded.
Results:
Twenty-eight participants completed the protocol; one dropout in the traditional group required multiple imputation. Adjusted depressive symptom scores were 2.7 ± 2.7 in the flywheel group (↓2.5 points) and 2.0 ± 2.8 in the traditional group (↓2.0 points), with no between-group difference (p = 0.193). The effect size was small (ηp² = 0.03) and statistical power was low (1-β = 0.25). All adverse events were mild (grade 1); no serious events occurred.
Conclusion:
Both flywheel and traditional resistance training showed potential to reduce depressive symptoms in sedentary older women. Larger trials are warranted.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05910632.
