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 testosterone replacement and/or resistance exercise on the composition of megestrol acetate stimulated weight gain in elderly men: a randomized controlled trial.
Megestrol acetate ( MA ) ( Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. , Princeton , NJ ) increases weight gain in AIDS and cancer patients and in age-related cachexia ; however , the weight gain is predominately fat . We determined if adding resistance exercise and /or testosterone ( T ) replacement to MA administration would result in a more favorable body composition change than MA alone . Thirty older men ( aged 67.0 + /- 5.8 ) completed this 12-wk study . All subjects received MA and were r and omly assigned to one of the following groups : placebo ( P ) injections , resistance training ( RT ) and P ( RT + P ) , weekly injections of T ( 100 mg/wk ) or , RT and T ( RT + T ) . The mean increase in body weight for all groups combined was 3.8 kg ( P < 0.0001 ) , but this increase was not different between groups . There was a significant interaction for the change in thigh muscle cross-sectional area ( P = 0.0006 ) . Thigh muscle cross-sectional area was significantly reduced from baseline by 5.20 [ 1.62 ] cm(2 ) ( P = 0.05 ) in P which was not prevented in T [ -4.44 ( 1.66 ) cm(2 ) from baseline ; P = 0.04 ] . RT prevented this decline [ + 0.61 ( 1.41 ) cm(2 ) from baseline ] . Muscle cross-sectional area increased 4.51 ( 1.69 ) cm(2 ) from baseline in RT + T ( P = 0.002 vs. P and P = 0.002 vs. T ) . Despite significant weight gain , MA appears to have an antianabolic effect on muscle size even when combined with T replacement . Resistance exercise attenuated this reduction in muscle mass and when combined with T had an anabolic effect on muscle mass
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 .