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 .
The effect of exercise on gait patterns in older women: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to determine ( a ) whether a program of regular exercise can improve gait patterns in older women , and ( b ) whether any such improvement in gait is mediated by increased lower limb muscle strength . METHOD A 22-week r and omized controlled trial of exercise was conducted as part of the R and wick Falls and Fractures Study in Sydney , Australia . Subjects were 160 women aged 60 - 83 years ( Mean age 71.1 , SD = 5.2 ) who were r and omly recruited from the community .  Exercise and control subjects were tested prior to and at the end of the trial . At initial testing , exercisers and controls performed similarly in the strength and gait parameters . They were well matched in terms of age and a number of health and life-style characteristics . RESULTS At the end of the trial , the exercise subjects showed improved strength in five lower limb muscle groups , increased walking speed , cadence , stride length , and shorter stride times as indicated by both reduced swing and stance duration . There were no significant improvements in any of the strength or gait parameters in the controls . Within the exercise group , increased cadence was associated with improved ankle dorsiflexion strength , and increased stride length was associated with improved hip extension strength .  Exercise subjects with initial slow walking speed showed greater changes in velocity , stride length , cadence , and stance duration than those with initial fast walking speed . CONCLUSION These findings show that exercise can increase gait velocity and related parameters in older persons , and that part of this increase may be mediated by improved lower limb muscle strength
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 .