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 .
Efficacy of a home-based training program for older adults using elastic tubing
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of , and the adherence to , a 12-week home-based progressive resistance training program for older adults utilizing elastic tubing . Sixty-two adults ( mean age , 71.2 years ) qualified to participate in the study . Subjects were r and omly assigned to either the exercise ( E ) ( n=31 ) or non-exercise ( NE ) group ( n=31 ) . Pre- and post-testing included isokinetic ( 1.05 rad · s −1 ) concentric/eccentric knee extension/flexion strength testing and flexibility measures of the hip , knee , and ankle . The E group trained three times per week , performing one to three sets of 10–12 repetitions for each of 12 resistance exercises . The exercises involved muscles of both the lower and upper body . Within the E group , 25 of the 31 subjects ( 80.6 % ) completed the study . Of the E subjects completing the study adherence to the three training sessions per week was 90 % ( range 72%–100 % ) . Training resistances used during workouts increased significantly with the average estimated increase being 82 % ( P<0.001 ) . The E group also demonstrated significant ( P<0.05 ) increases in isokinetic eccentric knee extension ( 12 % ) and flexion ( 10 % ) strength . No other significant changes were observed between E and NE groups . These results suggest that home-based resistance training programs utilizing elastic tubing can serve as a practical and effective means of eliciting strength gains in adults over the age of 65
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 .