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 longitudinal trial of weight training in the elderly: continued improvements in year 2.
We conducted a 2-year ( 42 weeks of consecutive training in each year , separated by 10 weeks of testing and vacation time ) r and omized , controlled trial of weight training in 142 healthy male and female subjects , aged 60 to 80 years . Measurements included dynamic strength , symptom-limited endurance in cycling , treadmill walking and stair climbing , muscle size , and bone mineral density and content of the lumbar spine and whole body .  One hundred and thirteen subjects completed the study ( 57 exercise , 56 control ) , with a mean attendance of 85 % among the exercisers . Muscle strength was unchanged in the control subjects but increased ( collapsed across age and gender ) from 32 % ( leg press ) to 90 % ( military press ) in the exercisers . Symptom-limited endurance in cycling , treadmill walking , and stair climbing increased in the exercisers by ( mean + /- SE ) 6.2 + /- 0.8 % , 29.2 + /- 7.3 % , and 57 + /- 12 % , respectively ; the only change in the controls was an unanticipated 33 % increase in stair climbing performance during the first year . These values were unchanged in the controls . Cross-sectional area of the knee extensors increased by 8.7 + /- 0.9 % in the trained subjects and was unchanged in controls . Measures of whole body , lumbar spine bone mineral density , and lumbar spine bone mineral content were unchanged in the exercisers , but whole body bone mineral content decreased by 1 % . In contrast , there were small increases ( < 4.0 % ) in bone mineral density among the controls . Long-term weight training proved to be a safe and well-tolerated mode of exercise for the elderly . Increased strength was associated with muscle hypertrophy in each year , and with increased endurance in cycling , walking , and stair climbing . There were no changes in bone mineral density but a small reduction in whole body bone mineral content
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 .