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 .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age is associated with physical function decline .
Progressive resistance strength training ( PRT ) exercises are design ed to increase strength .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of PRT on older people and identify adverse events .
Training-induced changes in muscle CSA, muscle strength, EMG, and rate of force development in elderly subjects after long-term unilateral disuse.
The ability to develop muscle force rapidly may be a very important factor to prevent a fall and to perform other tasks of daily life . However , information is still lacking on the range of training-induced neuromuscular adaptations in elderly humans recovering from a period of disuse . Therefore , the present study examined the effect of three types of training regimes after unilateral prolonged disuse and subsequent hip-replacement surgery on maximal muscle strength , rapid muscle force [ rate of force development ( RFD ) ] , muscle activation , and muscle size .  Thirty-six subjects ( 60 - 86 yr ) were r and omized to a 12-wk rehabilitation program consisting of either 1 ) strength training ( 3 times/wk for 12 wk ) , 2 ) electrical muscle stimulation ( 1 h/day for 12 wk ) , or 3 ) st and ard rehabilitation ( 1 h/day for 12 wk ) . The nonoperated side did not receive any intervention and thereby served as a within-subject control . Thirty subjects completed the trial . In the strength-training group , significant increases were observed in maximal isometric muscle strength ( 24 % , P < 0.01 ) , contractile RFD ( 26 - 45 % , P < 0.05 ) , and contractile impulse ( 27 - 32 % , P < 0.05 ) . No significant changes were seen in the two other training groups or in the nontrained legs of all three groups . Mean electromyogram signal amplitude of vastus lateralis was larger in the strength-training than in the st and ard-rehabilitation group at 5 and 12 wk ( P < 0.05 ) . In contrast to traditional physiotherapy and electrical stimulation , strength training increased muscle mass , maximal isometric strength , RFD , and muscle activation in elderly men and women recovering from long-term muscle disuse and subsequent hip surgery . The improvement in both muscle mass and neural function is likely to have important functional implication s for elderly individuals
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 .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age is associated with physical function decline .
Progressive resistance strength training ( PRT ) exercises are design ed to increase strength .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of PRT on older people and identify adverse events .