In frail older persons , moderate-to-large beneficial exercise effects were noted on inflammation , muscle strength and physical functioning .
In healthy older persons , effects of resistance training ( most frequently investigated ) on inflammation or muscle strength can be influenced by the exercise modalities ( intensity and rest interval between sets ) .
Muscle strength seemed the most frequently used outcome measure , with moderate-to-large effects obtained regardless the exercise intervention studied .
Similar effects were found in patients with specific diseases .
Summary Exercise has moderate-to-large effects on muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Purpose of review This systematic review reports the most recent literature regarding the effects of physical exercise on  muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Strength training at high versus low external resistance in older adults: Effects on muscle volume, muscle strength, and force–velocity characteristics
Muscle adaptations can be induced by high-resistance exercise . Despite being potentially more suitable for older adults , low-resistance exercise protocol s have been less investigated . We compared the effects of high- and low-resistance training on muscle volume , muscle strength , and force-velocity characteristics . Fifty-six older adults were r and omly assigned to 12 weeks of leg press and leg extension training at either HIGH ( 2 × 10 - 15 repetitions at 80 % of one repetition maximum ( 1RM ) ) , LOW ( 1 × 80 - 100 repetitions at 20 % of 1RM ) , or LOW+ ( 1 × 60 repetitions at 20 % of 1RM , followed by 1 × 10 - 20 repetitions at 40 % of 1RM ) . All protocol s ended with muscle failure . Leg press and leg extension of 1RM  were measured at baseline and post intervention and before the first training session in weeks 5 and 9 . At baseline and post intervention , muscle volume ( MV ) was measured by CT-scan . A Biodex dynamometer evaluated knee extensor static peak torque in different knee angles ( PT(stat90 ° ) , PT(stat120 ° ) , PT(stat150 ° ) ) , dynamic peak torque at different speeds ( PT(dyn60 ° s)(-1 ) , PT(dyn180 ° s)(-1 ) , PT(dyn240 ° s)(-1 ) ) , and speed of movement at 20 % ( S20 ) , 40 % ( S40 ) , and 60 % ( S60 ) of PTstat90 ° . HIGH and LOW+ result ed in greater improvements in 1RM strength than LOW ( p<0.05 ) . These differences were already apparent after week 5 . Similar gains were found between groups in MV , PT(stat ) , PT(dyn60 ° s)(-1 ) , and PT(dyn180 ° s)(-1 ) . No changes were reported in speed of movement . HIGH tended to improve PT(dyn240 ° s)(-1 ) more than LOW or LOW+ ( p=0.064 ) . In conclusion , high- and low-resistance exercises ending with muscle failure may be similarly effective for hypertrophy . High-resistance training led to a higher increase in 1RM strength  than low-resistance training ( 20 % of 1RM ) , but this difference disappeared when using a mixed low-resistance protocol in which the resistance was intensified within a single exercise set ( 40 % of 1RM ) . Our findings support the need for more research on  low-resistance programs in older age , in particular long-term training studies and studies focusing on residual effects after training cessation
In frail older persons , moderate-to-large beneficial exercise effects were noted on inflammation , muscle strength and physical functioning .
In healthy older persons , effects of resistance training ( most frequently investigated ) on inflammation or muscle strength can be influenced by the exercise modalities ( intensity and rest interval between sets ) .
Muscle strength seemed the most frequently used outcome measure , with moderate-to-large effects obtained regardless the exercise intervention studied .
Similar effects were found in patients with specific diseases .
Summary Exercise has moderate-to-large effects on muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Purpose of review This systematic review reports the most recent literature regarding the effects of physical exercise on  muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .