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 .
Effect of intense strength training on standing balance, walking speed, and sit-to-stand performance in older adults.
BACKGROUND Muscle size and strength decrease with aging , and the result ant muscle weakness has been implicated in increased risk of falls in older adults . These falls have large economic and functional costs . METHODS The purpose of this r and omized , controlled study was to determine if an 8-week , 3-day per week intense ( 77.8 + /- 3.4 % of 1-repetition maximum [ 1RM ] ) strength training program could improve functional ability related to the risk of falling in subjects aged 61 - -87 years ( mean 72 , SD 6.3 ) . Twelve strength-training-naive subjects performed two sets of 10 repetitions for six lower body exercises while 12 subjects served as nonintervention controls . Subjects were tested pre- , mid- , and postintervention for strength gain and on three tests of functional ability . RESULTS Postintervention strength was significantly better ( p < .017 ) in all training subjects across all exercises , and no injuries were reported as a result of either training or 1RM testing . After controlling for preintervention differences , repeated measure analysis of covariance ( ANCOVA ) found a significant difference between experimental and nonintervention control subjects for postintervention maximal walking speed [ F(1,19 ) = 5.03 , p < .05 ] . There were no significant between-group differences for 1-leg blind balance time or 5-repetition sit-to-st and performance [ F(1,19 ) = .082 ; F(1,19 ) = .068 , respectively , p > .05 ] . CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that strength training alone does not appear to enhance st and ing balance or sit-to-st and performance in active , community-dwelling older adults but that it may improve maximal walking speed . The relationship between strength gain and risk of falls remains unclear . The data do reinforce the notion that intense strength training is a safe and effective way to increase muscle strength in this population
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 .