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 .
A predominantly home-based progressive resistance exercise program increases knee extensor strength in the short-term in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised controlled trial.
QUESTIONS Does a 12-week , predominantly home-based program of progressive resistance exercises reduce impairments , activity limitations , and participation restrictions in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ? Are any gains maintained 12 weeks after the cessation of the program ? DESIGN R and omised controlled trial with concealed allocation , assessor blinding , and intention-to-treat analysis . PARTICIPANTS 54 people with moderately severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease not undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation . INTERVENTION The experimental group performed six progressive resistance exercises three times per week ( once a week hospital-based , twice a week home-based ) for 12 weeks . Exercise intensity was three sets of 8 to 12 repetition maximum progressed against elasticised b and s of increasing resistance . The control group received no intervention . OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were strength ( knee extensor , hip abductor , shoulder horizontal flexor , shoulder flexor ) measured using h and -held dynamometry , and walking capacity measured by the 6-minute Walk Test performed before and after intervention and again at 12 weeks after the cessation of intervention . RESULTS The experimental group increased their knee extensor strength by 4.9 kg ( 95 % CI 1.1 to 8.7 ) more than the control group by Week 12 . However , this gain was not maintained at Week 24 . No difference between the groups was found for any of the other primary outcomes . CONCLUSIONS A predominantly home-based progressive resistance exercise program led to modest improvements in knee extensor strength in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . However , 44 % of the experimental group were unable to complete the exercise program , highlighting the need to underst and factors influencing adherence to exercise in this population
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 .