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 .
Light resistance and stretching exercise in elderly women: effect upon strength.
Forty-seven elderly women ( 63 to 88 years of age , mean = 71 years ) were studied to determine the effect of a 25-week light resistance and aerobic exercise program upon arm and leg strength . Three groups were formed :  nonexercising controls  ( C , n = 12 ) , exercise ( EN , n = 18 ) and exercise with light weights on on the wrists and ankles ( EW , n = 17 ) . Exercise was performed for one hour , three times/week . Subjects were pretested and posttested for maximal isokinetic muscle strength ( angular velocity 60 degrees/sec ) for elbow flexion and extension , shoulder internal and external rotation , and knee flexion and extension . Dunn planned contrasts were used to compare C vs exercise groups combined ( EN + EW ) and EN vs EW . No significant differences were found among groups at baseline . EN + EW improved significantly ( p less than 0.05 ) more than C in elbow extension ( 17 % ) , shoulder internal rotation ( 14 % ) , shoulder external rotation ( 9 % ) , and knee flexion ( 20 % ) . No significant differences were found between EN and EW . These data indicate that elderly women can achieve substantial gains in the strength of arm and leg musculature as a result of regular light resistance and aerobic exercise , but that the use of light weights on the wrists and ankles for added resistance did not enhance this effect
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 .