Conclusions This review provides evidence that RT has a moderate positive effect on self-reported disability/function  in old people with or at risk for disability .
The effects are strongly associated with effects on objective measures of lower body functional capacity
Background Self-reported disability has a strong negative impact on older people ’s  quality of life and is often associated with the need for assistance and health care services .
Resistance training ( RT ) has been repeatedly shown to improve muscle function ( e.g. strength ) and functional capacity ( e.g. gait speed , chair-rise ) in older adults with functional limitations .
Nevertheless , it is unclear whether such objective ly assessed improvements translate into a reduction in self-reported disability .
Objectives To assess : i ) whether and to what extent RT interventions have an effect on self-reported disability in older adults ( ≥65 years ) with functional limitations or disability ; and ii ) whether the effects on self-reported disability are associated with changes in objective measures of muscle strength and functional capacity across studies .
Effects of three different low-intensity exercise interventions on physical performance, muscle CSA and activities of daily living: A randomized controlled trial
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the short-term effects of three different resistance training programs , conducted at low intensity , on physical performance , muscle cross-sectional area ( CSA ) and the capacity to perform daily tasks in older adults living in a geriatric nursing home . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial , with a 4-month intervention period . SETTING A geriatric nursing home in Valencia , Spain . PARTICIPANTS Eighty-nine adults aged 75 to 96 who were independent in their daily activities . INTERVENTION After a baseline assessment , the participants were r and omly assigned to the control group or one of the three intervention groups : volitional contraction ( VC ; n=22 ) , neuromuscular electrical stimulation ( NMES ; n=22 ) , or neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary contractions ( NMES+ ; n=22 ) . The intervention focused on knee extension exercises and its intensity was set at 40 % of one-repetition maximum ( 1RM ) . MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome measure was mobility . Secondary outcomes were rectus femoris CSA , balance , aerobic endurance , upper-body strength and the capacity to perform daily tasks . All data were collected at baseline and after the 4-month intervention period . RESULTS The two-way ANOVA analysis showed a significant group × time interaction effect for the mobility ( P=.022 ) , rectus femoris CSA ( P=.001 ) , and the capacity to perform daily tasks ( P=.05 ) . The within-group analysis found a more prominent effect in the NMES+ group . Significant improvements were seen in rectus femoris CSA and the capacity to perform daily tasks in all intervention groups . Mobility only improved in the NMES+ group ( P=.026 ) . CONCLUSION From a short-term perspective , NMES+ exercise training , performed at low intensity , can improve physical performance , muscle CSA , and the capacity to perform daily activities , and to partially mitigate age-related consequences in older adults
Conclusions This review provides evidence that RT has a moderate positive effect on self-reported disability/function  in old people with or at risk for disability .
The effects are strongly associated with effects on objective measures of lower body functional capacity
Background Self-reported disability has a strong negative impact on older people ’s  quality of life and is often associated with the need for assistance and health care services .
Resistance training ( RT ) has been repeatedly shown to improve muscle function ( e.g. strength ) and functional capacity ( e.g. gait speed , chair-rise ) in older adults with functional limitations .
Nevertheless , it is unclear whether such objective ly assessed improvements translate into a reduction in self-reported disability .
Objectives To assess : i ) whether and to what extent RT interventions have an effect on self-reported disability in older adults ( ≥65 years ) with functional limitations or disability ; and ii ) whether the effects on self-reported disability are associated with changes in objective measures of muscle strength and functional capacity across studies .