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The effects of strength conditioning on older women's ability to perform daily tasks
G R Hunter1, M S Treuth, R L Weinsier
1Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-1250, USA.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a strength-training program on walking speed and relative muscular stress, as measured by normalized integrated electromyographic (nIEMG) activity, while carrying a box of groceries and standing from a chair.
Design:
Prospective intervention study.
Setting:
Volunteer subjects from the community of Birmingham, Alabama.
Participants:
Fourteen healthy women aged 60 to 77 years.
Intervention:
Sixteen weeks of total body strength conditioning.
Measurements:
Before and after 16 weeks of strength conditioning, the following variables were evaluated for all subjects: (1) strength, six isotonic tests and two isometric tests; (2) walking velocity; (3) nIEMG of the biceps while carrying a box of groceries; and (4) nIEMG of the rectus femoris while standing from a chair.
Main Results:
After the strength training program, subjects' isotonic strength increased significantly, an average of 52% on the isotonic tests and 31% on the isometric tests. Walking velocity also increased significantly (18%). nIEMG of the biceps decreased 36% while carrying a box of groceries. Rectus femoris nIEMG decreased 40% while standing and 47% while sitting.
Conclusions:
After strength conditioning, healthy older women showed not only substantially increased strength but also improvements in walking velocity and the ability to carry out daily tasks such as rising from a chair and carrying a box of groceries.