In frail older persons , moderate-to-large beneficial exercise effects were noted on inflammation , muscle strength and physical functioning .
In healthy older persons , effects of resistance training ( most frequently investigated ) on inflammation or muscle strength can be influenced by the exercise modalities ( intensity and rest interval between sets ) .
Muscle strength seemed the most frequently used outcome measure , with moderate-to-large effects obtained regardless the exercise intervention studied .
Similar effects were found in patients with specific diseases .
Summary Exercise has moderate-to-large effects on muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Purpose of review This systematic review reports the most recent literature regarding the effects of physical exercise on  muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Load-Specific Inflammation Mediating Effects of Resistance Training in Older Persons.
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effects of resistance training ( RT ) on circulating cytokines in older adults . Also , dose-response relationships remain unclear . This study investigated the impact of RT at different external loads on circulating inflammatory mediators in older community-dwelling individuals . METHODS Fifty-six community-dwelling older ( 68 ± 5 years ) volunteers were r and omized to 12 weeks of supervised RT ( ×3/week ) at either high-resistance training [ 8 males , 10 females , 2 × 10 - 15 repetitions at 80 % 1 repetition maximum ( RM ) ] , low-resistance training ( 9 males , 10 females , 1 × 80 - 100 repetitions at 20 % 1 RM ) , or mixed low-resistance training ( 9 males , 10 females , 1 × 60 repetitions at 20 % 1 RM followed by 1 × 10 - 20 repetitions at 40 % 1 RM ) . Serum was available from 51 out of 56 participants at baseline and after 12 weeks for determination of interleukin (IL)-6 , IL-8 , IL-10 , IL-1β , soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR)1 , granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor , and IL-1 receptor antagonist ( ra ) . RESULTS Twelve weeks of RT significantly increased sTNFR1 from 2.48 ± 0.57 ng/mL to 2.58 ± 0.59 ng/mL ( overall time-effect P = .033 ) and Log IL-8 from 0.38 ± 0.18 pg/mL to 0.53 ± 0.32 pg/mL ( overall time-effect P = .007 ) . No time X group interaction ( P = .916 ) was observed . In males of the high-resistance training group , there was an increase in Log IL-8 ( from 0.45 ± 0.16 pg/mL to 0.68 ± 0.19 pg/mL ; P = .005 ) and IL-1ra ( from 68.60 ± 24.12 pg/mL to 79.56 ± 29.07 pg/mL ; P = .007 ) . No significant changes were found for the other markers . CONCLUSIONS Our results show that 12 weeks of supervised RT induced an overall significant increase of circulating IL-8 and sTNFR1 , independently from the external load applied . We suggest that exercising until volitional fatigue is the main trigger for exercise-induced responses . However , training at high external load also increased anti-inflammatory IL-1ra in male participants , which might be beneficial in combating low- grade inflammation
In frail older persons , moderate-to-large beneficial exercise effects were noted on inflammation , muscle strength and physical functioning .
In healthy older persons , effects of resistance training ( most frequently investigated ) on inflammation or muscle strength can be influenced by the exercise modalities ( intensity and rest interval between sets ) .
Muscle strength seemed the most frequently used outcome measure , with moderate-to-large effects obtained regardless the exercise intervention studied .
Similar effects were found in patients with specific diseases .
Summary Exercise has moderate-to-large effects on muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Purpose of review This systematic review reports the most recent literature regarding the effects of physical exercise on  muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .