Conclusions This review provides evidence that RT has a moderate positive effect on self-reported disability/function  in old people with or at risk for disability .
The effects are strongly associated with effects on objective measures of lower body functional capacity
Background Self-reported disability has a strong negative impact on older people ’s  quality of life and is often associated with the need for assistance and health care services .
Resistance training ( RT ) has been repeatedly shown to improve muscle function ( e.g. strength ) and functional capacity ( e.g. gait speed , chair-rise ) in older adults with functional limitations .
Nevertheless , it is unclear whether such objective ly assessed improvements translate into a reduction in self-reported disability .
Objectives To assess : i ) whether and to what extent RT interventions have an effect on self-reported disability in older adults ( ≥65 years ) with functional limitations or disability ; and ii ) whether the effects on self-reported disability are associated with changes in objective measures of muscle strength and functional capacity across studies .
Positive Effects of Physical Training in Activity of Daily Living–Dependent Older Adults
The goal of this study was to determinate the effects of physical training in older adults with mobility limitations . Thirty frail women ( 84 ± 6 years ) were r and omly assigned to a training or control group for 12 weeks of upper body physical training ( UBT ) performed sitting on wheelchairs . Trained subjects showed a significant improvement in arms strength ( + 29 % ) , and shoulder flexibility ( + 10 cm ) but did not improve in arms circumference . The activities of daily living ( ADLs ) were improved ( + 77 % ) , cognitive function as defined by the Mini-Mental State Examination ( MMSE ) was maintained in the trained group ( + 3 % ) and declined in the control group ( −21 % ) . These results demonstrate that UBT in dependent older women with mobility limitations can increase strength and improve ADLs
Conclusions This review provides evidence that RT has a moderate positive effect on self-reported disability/function  in old people with or at risk for disability .
The effects are strongly associated with effects on objective measures of lower body functional capacity
Background Self-reported disability has a strong negative impact on older people ’s  quality of life and is often associated with the need for assistance and health care services .
Resistance training ( RT ) has been repeatedly shown to improve muscle function ( e.g. strength ) and functional capacity ( e.g. gait speed , chair-rise ) in older adults with functional limitations .
Nevertheless , it is unclear whether such objective ly assessed improvements translate into a reduction in self-reported disability .
Objectives To assess : i ) whether and to what extent RT interventions have an effect on self-reported disability in older adults ( ≥65 years ) with functional limitations or disability ; and ii ) whether the effects on self-reported disability are associated with changes in objective measures of muscle strength and functional capacity across studies .