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 .
A randomized controlled trial of high versus low intensity weight training versus general practitioner care for clinical depression in older adults.
BACKGROUND Although exercise has been shown to relieve depression , little is known about its mechanism or dose-response characteristics . We hypothesized that high intensity progressive resistance training ( PRT ) would be more effective than either low intensity PRT or st and ard care by a general practitioner ( GP ) in depressed elderly persons , and that high intensity PRT would provide superior benefits in quality of life , sleep quality , and self-efficacy . METHODS Sixty community-dwelling adults > 60 years with major or minor depression were r and omized to supervised high intensity PRT ( 80 % maximum load ) or low intensity PRT ( 20 % maximum load ) 3 days per week for 8 weeks , or GP care . RESULTS A 50 % reduction in the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression score was achieved in 61 % of the high intensity , 29 % of the low intensity , and 21 % of the GP care group ( p = .03 ) . Strength gain was directly associated with reduction in depressive symptoms ( r = 0.40 , p = .004 ) , as was baseline social support network type ( F = 3.52 , p = .015 ) , whereas personality type , self-efficacy , and locus of control were unrelated to the antidepressant effect . Vitality quality -of-life scale improved more in the high intensity group than in the others ( p = .04 ) . Sleep quality improved significantly in all participants ( p < .0001 ) , with the greatest relative change in high intensity PRT ( p = .05 ) . CONCLUSIONS High intensity PRT is more effective than is low intensity PRT or GP care for the treatment of older depressed patients
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 .