Power Training: Can it Improve Functional Performance in Older Adults? A Systematic Review
Open accessAbstract
Older adults’ reduced performance in functional activities of daily living (ADL) such as gait, sit to stand or stair climbing may reflect age-related declines in muscular power more so than strength. Therefore, this review was conducted to determine if power training is effective in improving the functional ability of older adults, and if so, if it was more effective than strength training. The review was performed using Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, Sports Discus, ProQuest 5000 International and Google Scholar with the keywords “power training”, “older adult” and “elder” and all derivatives. Of the 12 eligible studies identified, nine also included a strength training group. Virtually all studies reported significant increases in strength and power for the strength and power training groups. Significant improvements in functional performance were observed for the power training groups in 10 of the 12 studies and in the strength training group in four of the nine studies that also examined the effect of strength training. These results demonstrate that strength and power training can both significantly improve functional performance in older adults, and suggest that power training may be more effective than strength training in this regard. Future research in this area should involve larger sample sizes of older men and women with varying levels of pre-training strength, power and functional ability and: 1) compare the relative efficacy of strength and power training; 2) determine if the optimal training prescription differs somewhat for each functional task; and 3) examine changes in quality of life and falls rate.
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Several systematic reviews have made direct comparisons of the effectiveness of these modalities on older adults' functional performance but did not fully address the quality of intervention reporting.
“To date, several systematic reviews have made direct comparisons of the effectiveness of these modalities on older adults ' functional performance 24,37,46 -49 but did not fully address the quality of the intervention reporting, which limits the translation and application into practice.”
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 [37]
Multiple studies support the utility of both TRT and HVPT for improving functional performance in older adults.
“While multiple studies support the utility of both TRT and HVPT for improving functional performance in older adults, 29,34 -40 the relative effect of each training modality on functional performance is likely to be task speci fi c. 41”
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 [37]
Two previous reviews were narrative syntheses that did not quantitatively synthesise study data.
“Two previous reviews were narrative syntheses that did not quantitatively synthesise study data. 24,37”
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 [37]
Cites
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BackgroundPotential for gross muscle hypertrophy in older men
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“Neural Adaptations As with younger adults, older adults exhibit strength gains early on in resistance training programmes that occur in conjunction with no significant muscular hypertrophy (62).”
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“Hypertrophy As with younger adults, older adults retain the capacity for their muscles to hypertrophy in response to resistance exercise, with this apparent even in the tenth decade (30, 31, 36).”
BackgroundForms of Variable Resistance Training
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“Two previous reviews were narrative syntheses that did not quantitatively synthesise study data.(24,37) Three additional systematic reviews included a small number of studies in their analyses (six studies,(47) three studies(46) and four studies(49)); the data were possibly incomplete and the small sample sizes reduce…”
ResultOf sound mind and body: Exploring the diet-strength interaction in healthy aging
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- Authors
- Rice, J., & Keogh, J.
- Affiliations
- Auckland University of Technology (NZ)
- ORCID
- Keogh, Justin
- Venue
- International Journal of Exercise Science
- Published
- 2009-01-01
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 131
- ISSN
- 1939-795X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1524122914
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nd
- Locations
- International journal of exercise science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- TopSCHOLAR (Western Kentucky University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- power training, resistance training, older adults, functional performance, activities of daily living, muscle power, age-related decline, gait, sit-to-stand, stair climbing, fall prevention, quality of life
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