Weight training improves walking endurance in healthy elderly persons

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Community-dwelling elderly individuals often experience declines in physical function.
• Maintaining walking endurance and leg strength is crucial for independent living and preventing disability in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a structured resistance-training program on walking endurance.
• To assess changes in leg strength and other physical parameters in healthy elderly individuals.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted.
• Participants included 24 healthy community-dwelling older adults (age ≥ 65 years).
• The study compared a resistance-training group with a non-exercising control group, measuring exhaustive submaximal walking time.

Main Results:

• The resistance-training group demonstrated a significant 38% increase in submaximal walking endurance (34 +/- 9 minutes vs. 25 +/- 4 minutes).
• Leg strength showed a significant positive correlation with the improvement in walking endurance (r=0.48; P=0.02).
• No significant changes in peak aerobic capacity or body composition were observed, though leg fat-free mass increased in the training group.

Conclusions:

• Three months of resistance training effectively improves walking endurance and leg strength in healthy older adults.
• These improvements in physical functioning are vital for older persons, particularly those at risk of disability.
• Resistance training represents a viable intervention to enhance mobility and functional independence in the elderly population.