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 .
Effect of strength training on musculotendinous stiffness in elderly individuals
The present study deals with the question whether 24-week strength training alters neuromechanical properties of plantar flexors in elderly people ( 73–83 years ) . The first purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of strength training on musculotendinous ( MT ) stiffness of the triceps surae ( TS ) . The training was performed twice per week and mainly consisted of three series of ten repetitions of calf-rise and leg-press exercises at 75 % of the three-repetition maximum . Using quick-release movements at different levels of submaximal torques performed measurements of MT stiffness . Surface electromyograms ( EMG ) of each part of the TS and the tibialis anterior were also recorded . A stiffness index ( SI ) , defined as the slope of the angular stiffness – torque relationship ( SIMT-Torque ) , was used to quantify changes in MT stiffness . Results showed a significant decrease in SIMT-Torque by 25.2 % following training ( P<0.05 ) . The second purpose of the study was to evaluate whether neural mechanism has influences on this decrease . Therefore , an activation SI , defined as the slope of the angular stiffness – EMG relationship ( SIMT-EMG ) was used to overcome the influence of changes in agonist activity , and thus to quantify changes in MT intrinsic elastic properties . SIMT-EMG only decreased by 11.2 % following training ( P<0.05 ) . The present results underlined that MT stiffness decreases following training in elderly individuals , counterbalancing the effect of ageing . These changes seem not only to be due to peripheral but also to neural adaptations
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 .