Finally , muscle power testing was found to be safe in older people with a broad range of health and functional states
Background Muscle power has been proposed to be the primary therapeutic target for resistance training interventions aim ed at enhancing physical function in older adults .
However , no recommendations exist on ideal testing protocol s to assess muscle power in older adults , and the safety of this procedure has not been adequately evaluated in the literature .
Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify studies evaluating muscle power exerted by older people in resistance exercises through May 2017 .
Comparative effects of light or heavy resistance power training for improving lower extremity power and physical performance in mobility-limited older adults.
BACKGROUND We compared the effects of two uniquely different lower extremity power training interventions on changes in muscle power , physical performance , neuromuscular activation , and muscle cross sectional area in mobility-limited older adults . METHODS Fifty-two subjects ( 78±5 years , short physical performance battery score : 8.1±1 ) were r and omized to either 16 weeks of progressive high velocity resistance training performed at low external resistance ( 40 % of the 1-repetition maximum [ 1-RM ] [ LO ] ) or high external resistance ( 70 % of 1RM [ HI ] ) . Both groups completed three sets of leg and knee extension exercises at maximum voluntary velocity , two times per  week . Neuromuscular activation was assessed  using surface electromyography and muscle cross sectional area ( CSA ) was measured using computed tomography . RESULTS At 16 weeks , LO and HI exhibited significant and similar within-group increases of leg extensor peak power ( ~34 % vs ~42 % ) , strength ( ~13 % vs ~19 % ) , and SPPB score ( 1.4±0.3 vs 1.8±0.3 units ) , respectively ( all P < .03 ) . Improvements in neuromuscular activation occurred in LO ( P = .03 ) while small gains in mid-thigh muscle CSA were detected in LO ( 1.6 % , P = .35 ) and HI ( 2.1 % , P = .17 ) . No significant between-group differences were evident for any measured parameters ( all P > .25 ) . CONCLUSIONS High velocity resistance training with low external resistance yields similar improvements in muscle power and physical performance compared to training with high external resistance in mobility-limited elders . These findings may have important implication s for optimizing exercise interventions for older adults with mobility limitations
Finally , muscle power testing was found to be safe in older people with a broad range of health and functional states
Background Muscle power has been proposed to be the primary therapeutic target for resistance training interventions aim ed at enhancing physical function in older adults .
However , no recommendations exist on ideal testing protocol s to assess muscle power in older adults , and the safety of this procedure has not been adequately evaluated in the literature .
Methods A systematic review was conducted to identify studies evaluating muscle power exerted by older people in resistance exercises through May 2017 .