Benefits of resistance training in physically frail elderly: a systematic review
Abstract
Aim Exercise is one of the most important components in frailty prevention and treatment. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the effect of resistance training (RT) alone or combined with multimodal exercise intervention on muscle hypertrophy, maximal strength, power output, functional performance, and falls incidence in physically frail elderly.Methods MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched from 2005 to 2017. Studies must have mentioned the effects of RT (i.e., included or not in multimodal training) on at least one of the following parameters: muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle power, functional capacity, and risk of falls in frail elderly.Results The initial search identified 371 studies and 16 were used for qualitative analysis for describing the effect of strength training performed alone or in a multimodal exercise intervention. We observed that RT alone or in a multimodal training may induce increases of 6.6-37% in maximal strength; 3.4-7.5% in muscle mass, 8.2% in muscle power, 4.7-58.1% in functional capacity and risk of falls, although some studies did not show enhancements.Conclusion Frequency of 1-6 sessions per week, training volume of 1-3 sets of 6-15 repetitions and intensity of 30-70%1-RM promoted significant enhancements on muscle strength, muscle power, and functional outcomes. Therefore, in agreement with previous studies, we suggest that supervised and controlled RT represents an effective intervention in frailty treatment.
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Individuals with greater functional impairment can still increase muscle strength and power and may benefit the most from resistance training.
“Individuals with greater functional impairment can still increase muscle strength and power and may bene fi t the most from resistance training. 122”
From High-velocity power training has similar effects to traditional resistance training for functional performance in older adults: a systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [122]
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“Individuals with greater functional impairment can still increase muscle strength and power and may benefit the most from resistance training.(122) It is unknown whether TRT and HVPT may have comparable effects in this population.”
Background
- Authors
- Lopez, P., Pinto, R. S., Radaelli, R., Rech, A., Grazioli, R., Izquierdo, M., & Cadore, E. L.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- Venue
- Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
- Published
- 2017-11-29
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 889-899
- ISSN
- 1594-0667 (ISSN-L)
- 1720-8319
- OpenAlex
- W2768606470
- Cited by
- 338
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 2.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Frailty in Older Adults
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Keywords
- resistance training, frailty, older adults, muscle strength, muscle power, muscle hypertrophy, functional capacity, falls, multimodal training, exercise frequency, training volume, exercise intensity, supervised exercise intervention
- MeSH terms
- Accidental Falls, Aged, Humans, Exercise, Frail Elderly, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training
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