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 ?
Exercise training, vascular function, and functional capacity in middle-aged subjects.
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 wk of exercise training on functional capacity , muscular strength , body composition , and vascular function in sedentary but healthy subjects by using a r and omized , crossover protocol . METHODS After familiarization sessions , 19 subjects aged 47 + /- 2 yr ( mean + /- SE ) undertook a r and omized , crossover design study of the effect of 8 wk of supervised circuit training consisting of combined aerobic and resistance exercise .  Peak oxygen uptake ( .VO(2peak ) ) , sum of 7 maximal voluntary contractions and the sum of 8 skinfolds and 5 segment girths were determined at entry , crossover , and 16 wk . Endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular function were determined by forearm strain-gauge plethysmography and intrabrachial infusions of acetylcholine ( ACh ) and sodium nitroprusside ( SNP ) in 16 subjects . RESULTS Training did not alter ACh or SNP responses . .VO(2peak ) , ( 28.6 + /- 1.1 to 32.6 + /- 1.3 mL.kg(-1).min(-1 ) , P < 0.001 ) , exercise test duration ( 17.4 + /- 1.1 to 22.1 + /- 1.2 min , P < 0.001 ) , and muscular strength ( 465 + /- 27 to 535 + /- 27 kg , P < 0.001 ) significantly increased after the exercise program , whereas skinfolds decreased ( 144 + /- 10 vs 134 + /- 9 mm , P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSION These results suggest that moderate intensity circuit training design ed to minimize the involvement of the arms improves functional capacity , body composition , and strength in healthy , middle-aged subjects without significantly influencing upper limb vascular function . This finding contrasts with previous studies in subjects with type 2 diabetes and heart failure that employed an identical training program
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 ?