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 .
The relationship of joint symptoms with exercise performance in older adults.
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to determine if exercise increases joint symptoms in older adults with a history of arthritis or produces symptoms in older adults without such history . In addition , we examine whether joint symptoms explain the large observed variation in strength gain in older adults undergoing vigorous strength training exercise  , and report the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries upon initiation of an exercise program . DESIGN A population -based , single blinded , r and omized controlled trial with three exercise groups and one control group . SETTING A large urban health maintenance organization . PARTICIPANTS Older men and women ( N = 105 ) aged 68 to 85 , with leg strength below the 50th percentile for their age , sex , height , and weight and without neuromuscular disease or active cardiovascular disease . INTERVENTIONS Supervised exercise in 1-hour sessions , three times each week , for 24 to 26 weeks . One exercise group did strength training ( ST ) using weight machines ( n = 25 ) ; another group did endurance training ( ET ) using stationary cycles ( n = 25 ) ; and the third group did combined strength training and endurance training ( ST+ET ) ( n = 25 ) . The control group ( n = 30 ) received no intervention . MEASUREMENTS Strength was measured at the ankle , knee , hip , and elbow using an isokinetic dynamometer . Joint symptoms were rated on a 6-point scale ( 0 = none , 5 = severe ) . Arthritis severity was based on self-reported use of arthritis medication . Health status was measured with subscales of the SF-36 and Sickness Impact Profile ( SIP ) . RESULTS Joint symptoms fluctuated over time in all exercise groups , but they did not improve or worsen significantly in any group . The physical dimension of the SIP and SF-36 subscale scores , including Bodily Pain Scores , did not change over time in any group . Subjects with arthritis and joint symptoms gained as much strength with strength training as did subjects without joint symptoms . Adjustment for age , gender , baseline strength , adherence , and exercise group did not affect this finding . The rate of minor musculoskeletal injuries was 2.2 injuries per 1000 exercise hours . CONCLUSIONS Moderate intensity stationary cycle exercise and vigorous intensity strength training do not appear to produce or exacerbate joint symptoms in older adults . Joint symptoms did not explain the large variation in gains in strength in older adults participating in a st and ardized strength training exercise program .  Musculoskeletal injuries occurred relatively infrequently , and no major injuries occurred . In evaluating joint pain that occurs in older adults in well regulated exercise programs , clinicians should consider other etiologies before attributing pain to exercise per se
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 .