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 .
Improving cardiovascular fitness by strength or endurance training in women aged 76-78 years. A population-based, randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND there have been few population -based , r and omized controlled trials on the effects of strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness in older women . OBJECTIVE to study the effects of strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness in women aged 76 - 78 years . DESIGN a population -based , r and omized controlled trial . SETTING exercise laboratory in a university faculty of sport and health sciences . SUBJECTS we r and omly assigned 42 medically-screened women aged 76 - 78 years , drawn from the population register to strength ( n=16 ) , endurance ( n=15 ) or control ( n=11 ) groups . METHODS subjects in the two exercise groups performed a supervised , individually tailored 18-week strength or endurance training programme . Controls continued with physical activity at their normal level . RESULTS the strength training group showed an increase in cycle ergometer peak power from 68.1 to 70.3 W ( P=0.035 compared with controls ) . Their peak power per kg body weight increased from 1.02 to 1.05 , while that of the endurance training group increased from 0.91 to 0.93 ( P=0.027 and P=0.049 respectively ) . Peak oxygen uptake increased from 18.1 to 19.7 ml x kg(-1 ) x min(-1 ) in the strength and from 17.1 to 18.2 in the endurance group ( non-significant ) . Six subjects ( 19 % ) in the exercise groups withdrew from the study because of health problems . CONCLUSIONS even with its limitations , the study suggests that the effect of 18-week strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness among women aged > /=75 is relatively small . Furthermore , health problems can emerge during training programmes in medically-screened elderly women
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 .