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 .
Concentric versus combined concentric-eccentric isokinetic training: effects on functional capacity and symptoms in patients with osteoarthrosis of the knee.
OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of concentric and coupled concentric-eccentric isokinetic resistance training on functional capacity and symptoms of patients with osteoarthrosis ( OA ) of both knees . DESIGN Repeated measures . SETTING A university exercise physiology laboratory . PARTICIPANTS Twenty-three volunteers , ages 41 to 75 years . Patients were r and omly assigned to 3 groups : concentric ( CON , n = 9 ) , concentric-eccentric ( CON-ECC , n = 8) , and nontreatment ( NONTX , n = 6 ) . INTERVENTIONS The CON group performed 12 concentric contractions of each knee extensor and flexor muscles ; the CON-ECC group performed 6 concentric and 6 eccentric contractions of each knee muscle group by using a spectrum of angular velocities ranging from 30 degrees/s to 180 degrees/s with 30 degrees/s intervals , for both sides , 3 days a week for 8 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Functional capacity ( rising from a chair , walking , stair climbing and descending ) and pain during rest and activities , peak torque , and cross-sectional area ( CSA ) of knee muscle groups of subjects were tested before and after training . RESULTS Both training groups showed marked decreases ( P < .001 ) in pain scores and increases ( P < .001 ) in functional capacity together with increases ( P < .05 - -.01 ) in peak torque and CSA of knee muscles . However , the NONTX group did not display these marked changes after the 8-week period . The results also indicated that concentric-eccentric training has a greater influence on functional capacity , especially stair climbing and descending , than that of concentric training when compared with NONTX group ; however , the improvements in pain measurements were better in the CON group compared with the CON-ECC group after the training . CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that with the isokinetic resistance training used in this study , it is possible to improve functional capacity and decrease pain in patients with OA of the knee . The results also showed that extensive training involving a high number of repetitions and eccentric contractions was safe , effective , and well tolerated for the patients with knee OA
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 .