This review found that muscle strength , balance , and endurance can be improved by physical activity in people aged 40 - 65 years .
There were bigger effects on muscle strength from programs that used resistance exercises , indicating the need to include a resistance training component if strength enhancement is the goal
QUESTION Can physical activity  in adults aged 40 - 65 years enhance strength and balance and prevent falls ?
Effect of alendronate and exercise on bone and physical performance of postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
In this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled 12-month trial we evaluated effects of weight- bearing jumping exercise and oral alendronate , alone or in combination , on the mass and structure of bone , risk factors for falling ( muscle strength and power , postural sway , and dynamic balance ) , and cardiorespiratory fitness in postmenopausal women . A total of 164 healthy , sedentary , early postmenopausal women were r and omly assigned to one of four experimental groups : ( 1 ) 5 mg of alendronate daily plus progressive jumping exercise , ( 2 ) 5 mg alendronate , ( 3 ) placebo plus progressive jumping exercise , or ( 4 ) placebo . The primary endpoint was 12-month change in bone mass and geometry ( measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral computed tomography at several axial and limb sites ) and physical performance ; the secondary endpoint was change in biochemical markers of bone turnover . The jumping exercise was conducted an average 1.6 + /- 0.9 ( mean + /- SD ) times a week . Alendronate daily was effective in increasing bone mass at the lumbar spine ( alendronate vs placebo 3.5 % ; 95 % CI , 2.2 - 4.9 % ) and femoral neck ( 1.3 % ; 95 % CI , 0.2 - 2.4 % ) but did not affect other bone sites . Exercise alone had no effect on bone mass at the lumbar spine or femoral neck ; it had neither an additive nor an interactive effect with alendronate at these bone sites . However , at the distal tibia the mean increase of 3.6 % ( 0.3 - 7.1 % ) in the section modulus ( that is , bone strength ) and 3.7 % ( 0.1 - 7.3 % ) increase in the ratio of cortical bone to total bone area were statistically significant in the exercise group compared to the nonexercise group , indicating exercise-induced thickening of the bone cortex . Bone turnover was reduced in alendronate groups only . Alendronate had no effect on physical performance while the jumping exercise improved leg extensor power , dynamic balance , and cardiorespiratory fitness . As conclusion Alendronate is effective in increasing bone mass at the lumbar spine and femoral neck , while exercise is effective in increasing the mechanical properties of bone at some of the most loaded bone sites , as well as improving the participants ' muscular performance and dynamic balance . Together alendronate and exercise may effectively decrease the risk of osteoporotic fractures
This review found that muscle strength , balance , and endurance can be improved by physical activity in people aged 40 - 65 years .
There were bigger effects on muscle strength from programs that used resistance exercises , indicating the need to include a resistance training component if strength enhancement is the goal
QUESTION Can physical activity  in adults aged 40 - 65 years enhance strength and balance and prevent falls ?