PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .
Exercise training improves functional status in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
PURPOSE In patients with intermittent claudication ( IC ) a structured walking exercise program improves exercise performance . However , few studies have evaluated the effects of exercise training on functional status during daily activities . We hypothesized that a supervised exercise training program would improve functional status in patients with IC , with 24 weeks of training more beneficial than 12 weeks . A secondary aim was to evaluate the effects of strength training and combinations of strength and treadmill training on functional status . METHODS Twenty-nine men with disabling IC were r and omized to 12 weeks of either supervised treadmill training ( 3 hr/wk at a work intensity sufficient to produce claudication ) , strength training ( 3 hr/wk of resistive training of six muscle groups of each leg ) , or to a nonexercising control group .  Functional status was assessed by question naires characterizing walking ability ( Walking Impairment Question naire , WIQ ) , habitual physical activity level ( Physical Activity Recall , PAR ) , and physical , social , and role functioning , well-being , and overall health ( Medical Outcomes Study SF-20 , MOS ) . Patients alos had their activity levels monitored with an activity monitor ( Vitalog ) . RESULTS After 12 weeks of treadmill training  PAR scores increased by 48 metabolic equivalent hr/wk , the MOS physical functioning score by 24 percentage points , and the number of bouts of walking activity measured by the Vitalog by 4.5 bouts/hr ( all p < 0.05 ) . No changes were seen in WIQ scores . After 12 additional weeks of treadmill training improvements initially observed in the PAR , MOS , and Vitalog scores were maintained , and in addition the ability to walk distances ( WIQ ) improved by 31 percentage points , and the IC severity score had improved by 29 percentage points ( both p < 0.05 ) . After 12 weeks of strength training patients improved their WIQ walking speed , stair climbing scores , and MOS well-being scores with no other changes in functional status . Subjects in the control group did not improve functional status by any measure . Twelve weeks of treadmill training after the strength training program maintained WIQ walking speed scores , and activity level defined by Vitalog improved . Twelve weeks of combined treadmill and strength training after the control period had no effect on functional status . CONCLUSIONS A supervised treadmill training program improved functional status during daily activities , with 24 weeks more effective than 12 . In addition , treadmill training alone was more effective in improving functional status in patients with IC than strength training or combinations of the training modalities
PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .