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 .
Optimal load for increasing muscle power during explosive resistance training in older adults.
BACKGROUND Muscle power ( force x velocity ) recedes at a faster rate than strength with age and may also be a stronger predictor of fall risk and functional decline . The optimal training paradigm for improving muscle power in older adults is not known , although some literature suggests high velocity , low load training is optimal in young adults . METHODS One hundred twelve healthy older adults ( 69 + /- 6 years ) were r and omly assigned to either explosive resistance training at 20 % ( G20 ) , 50 % ( G50 ) , or 80 % ( G80 ) one repetition maximum ( 1RM ) for 8 - 12 weeks or to a nontraining control group ( CON ) . Participants trained twice per week ( five exercises ; three sets of eight rapidly concentric and slow eccentric repetitions ) using pneumatic resistance machines . Repeated- measures analysis of variance and covariance ( ANOVA and ANCOVA ) were used to determine the effects of training . RESULTS Average peak power increased significantly and similarly in G80 ( 14 + /- 8 % ) , G50 ( 15 + /- 9 % ) , and G20 ( 14 + /- 6 % ) compared to CON ( 3 + /- 6 % ) ( p < .0001 ) . By contrast , a positive dose-response relationship with training intensity was observed for relative changes in average strength ( r = .40 , p = .0009 ) and endurance ( r = .43 , p = .0005 ) . Average strength increased in G80 ( 20 + /- 7 % ) , G50 ( 16 + /- 7 % ) , and G20 ( 13 + /- 7 % ) compared to CON ( 4 + /- 4 % ) ( p < .0001 ) . Average muscle endurance increased in G80 ( 185 + /- 126 % , p < .0001 ) , G50 ( 103 + /- 75 % , p = .0004 ) , and G20 ( 82 + /- 57 % , p = .0078 ) compared to CON ( 28 + /- 29 % ) . CONCLUSION Peak muscle power may be improved similarly using light , moderate , or heavy resistances , whereas there is a dose-response relationship between training intensity and muscle strength and endurance changes . Therefore , using heavy loads during explosive resistance training may be the most effective strategy to achieve simultaneous improvements in muscle strength , power , and endurance in older adults
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 .