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 .
Effects of a one-year high-intensity versus low-intensity resistance training program on bone mineral density in older women.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-month resistance training program , of two different intensities , on bone mineral density ( BMD ) in healthy , older women . Twenty-six Caucasian women ( aged 65 - 79 years ) completed the study . Subjects were r and omly assigned to one of three groups : high-intensity ( HI ; n = 8) , low-intensity ( LI ; n = 7 ) , and control ( CON ; n = 11 ) . The active groups performed 10 exercises , 3 days/week under supervision . Exercise intensity was maintained at 80 % of one-repetition maximum ( 1-RM ) for the HI groups , and at 40 % 1-RM for the LI group . The volume of work was maintained constant between the two groups by assigning the LI group twice as many repetitions for each exercise . Maximal muscular strength and BMD of the lumbar spine and total hip were measured at baseline and at 12 months . Strength was evaluated using the 1-RM method , and BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Exercise session attendance was similar for the two groups ( 81.0 % HI ; 76.8 % LI ) . Muscular strength improved in the exercisers compared with the CON group ( p < or = 0.05 ) . Percentage change in lumbar spine BMD was 0.7 + /- 1.9 % , 0.5 + /- 2.4 % , and -0.1 + /- 2.3 % for the HI , LI , and CON groups , respectively . Percentage change in total hip BMD was 0.8 + /- 2.3 % ( HI ) , 1.0 + /- 1.7 % ( LI ) , and 0.9 + /- 1.3 % ( CON ) . Group differences in BMD change were not significant ( p > 0.05 ) . These findings suggest that high-intensity and low-intensity resistance training regimens effectively increase muscular strength , but not lumbar spine or total hip BMD , in healthy , older women
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 .