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 additional functional exercises on balance in elderly people
Objective : To evaluate the additional effect of functional exercises on balance and lower extremity function among hostel-dwelling elderly people partaking in strength , training . Design : A r and omized two-group parallel controlled trial . Setting : A senior resident ’s hostel in Switzerl and . Participants : Thirty-two individuals r and omized to either strength or strength and functional exercise groups . Interventions : Both groups received machine-driven strength training for 45 min , twice weekly , for 12 weeks . The strength and functional exercises group received an additional 30 min of functional exercise training , once weekly . Main outcome measures : Tinetti test , balance tests and a physical performance test . Assessment s were performed before and after the intervention . Results : Improvements for the balance test depended on the type of training ( significant interaction effects [ F(1,20)= 6.7 ; P = 0.018 ] ) . This test improved from 11.3 ∓ 11.7 to 17 ∓ 11.2 ( P = 0.009 ) in the combined training group ( n = 12 ) and remained from 7.3 ∓ 9.5 to 6.9 ∓ 9.2 unchanged ( P = 0.821 ) in the strength training group ( n = 13 ) . A significant difference between groups following training was observed ( P = 0.031 ) . The Tinetti balance score and the chair st and test of the physical performance assessment improved from 14.3 ∓ 1.9 to 15.3 ∓ 1.1 ( P = 0.026 ) and 1.8 ∓ 1.2 to 2.8 ∓ 1.1 ( P = 0.012 ) respectively in the combined training group only . Conclusions : Our findings suggest that twice-weekly lower extremity strength training of 12 weeks ’ duration in hostel-dwelling elderly people  only improves task-specific balance performance and lower extremity physical function when additional functional exercises are added
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 .