Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Muscle weakness in old age is associated with physical function decline.
Progressive resistance strength training PRT exercises are designed to increase strength. We also searched reference lists of articles, reviewed conference abstracts and contacted authors. Two review authors independently selected trials, assessed trial quality and extracted data.
Data were pooled where appropriate. One hundred and twenty one trials with participants were included. In most trials, PRT was performed two to three times per week and at a high intensity.
PRT resulted in a small but significant improvement in physical ability 33 trials, participants; SMD 0. Functional limitation measures also showed improvements: e. There was no evidence from 10 other trials participants that PRT had an effect on bodily pain. Adverse events were poorly recorded but adverse events related to musculoskeletal complaints, such as joint pain and muscle soreness, were reported in many of the studies that prospectively defined and monitored these events.
Serious adverse events were rare, and no serious events were reported to be directly related to the exercise programme. This review provides evidence that PRT is an effective intervention for improving physical functioning in older people, including improving strength and the performance of some simple and complex activities.
