PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .
Low-intensity exercise as a modifier of physical frailty in older adults.
OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a 3-month low-intensity exercise program on physical frailty . DESIGN R and omized clinical trial . SETTING Regional tertiary-care hospital and academic medical center with an outpatient rehabilitation fitness center . PARTICIPANTS Eighty-four physically frail older adults ( mean age , 83 + /- 4 yrs ) . INTERVENTION Three-month low-intensity supervised exercise ( n = 48 ) versus unsupervised home-based flexibility activities ( n = 36 ) . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Physical performance test , measures of balance , strength , flexibility , coordination , speed of reaction , peripheral sensation . RESULTS Significant improvement was made by the exercise group on our primary indicator of frailty , a physical performance test ( PPT ) ( 29 + /- 4 vs 31 + /- 4 out of a possible 36 points ) , as well as many of the risk factors previously identified as contributors to frailty ; eg , reductions in flexibility , strength , gait speed , and poor balance . Although the home exercise control group showed increases in range of motion , the improvements in flexibility did not translate into improvements in physical performance capacity as assessed by the PPT . CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that physical frailty is modifiable with a program of modest activities that can be performed by virtually all older adults . They also indicate that exercise programs consisting primarily of flexibility activities are not likely to reverse or attenuate physical frailty . Although results suggest that frailty is modifiable , it is not likely to be eliminated with exercise , and efforts should be directed toward preventing the condition
PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .