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Cited by 207Nutrition and Health in AgingBalance, Gait, and Falls PreventionFrailty in Older Adults

Progressive resistance strength training for physical disability in older people

Latham, Nancy K, Anderson, Craig S, Bennett, Derrick A, Stretton, Caroline·2003·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
DOI 10.1002/14651858.cd002759
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Muscle weakness in old age, is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls. Progressive resistance strength (PRT) training exercises (i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training) are designed to increase strength in older people. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability, functional limitation and impairment in older people, and identify adverse events. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group specialized register (to August 2002), CENTRAL/CCTR (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2002), MEDLINE (1966 to February 1, 2002), EMBASE (1980 to February 1, 2002), CINAHL (1982 to February 1, 2002), Sports Discus (1948 to February 1, 2002), PEDro - The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (accessed February 1, 2002) and Digital Dissertations (accessed February 1, 2002). We also searched reference lists of articles, reviewed conference abstracts and contacted authors. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of PRT alone for older people (i.e. mean age of 60 or over) were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were obtained using fixed or random effect models as appropriate. When measures with different units were pooled, standardised mean differences (SMD) were calculated. Relative risks were calculated for dichotomous outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: Sixty-six trials with 3783 participants were included. Most studies were small and of poor quality. PRT had a large positive effect on strength (41 trials, 1955 participants), but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality, participant characteristics or the exercise program. Some functional limitation measures showed modest improvements (i.e. gait speed, 14 trials, 798 participants, WMD 0.07 m/s, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.09). However, there was no evidence that PRT had an effect on physical disability when activity measures or health related quality of life measures (HRQOL) were assessed (10 trials, 798 participants, SMD 0.01, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.16 ). Adverse events were poorly recorded, but musculoskeletal injuries were detected in most of the studies that prospectively defined and monitored these events. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations. However, the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear. It is difficult to determine the balance of risks and benefits of PRT because adverse events have generally been poorly collected and recorded.

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Authors
Latham, N. K., Anderson, C. S., Bennett, D. A., & Stretton, C.
Affiliations
  • Boston University (US)
  • The George Institute for Global Health (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • Auckland University of Technology (NZ)
ORCID
Venue
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Published
2003-04-22
Issue
2
Pages
CD002759-CD002759
DOI
10.1002/14651858.cd002759
OpenAlex
W2092463408
Cited by
207
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 8
Type
reference entry
Language
en
Update notices
new_version (2009-07-08)
Open access
closed
Locations
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Frailty in Older Adults
Keywords
progressive resistance training, resistance training, older adults, physical disability, functional limitations, muscle strength, walking speed, health-related quality of life, falls, adverse events, exercise intervention, sarcopenia, mobility (physical function), activities of daily living, exercise adherence, exercise duration, exercise frequency, exercise intensity, exercise safety
MeSH terms
Aged, Humans, Exercise, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Muscle Weakness

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