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 physical exercise for elderly patients with physical impairments.
Exercise is known to preserve many physiological responses in the healthy elderly , yet those with physical impairments are often discouraged from exercising . The authors studied the effects of a closely supervised exercise program design ed specifically for elders with health problems and functional limitations . Tests , selected for their relevance to clinical patient management , included the Self Evaluation of Life Function question naire , treadmill performance , and tests of autonomic nervous system and neuromotor functions .  Ambulatory volunteers , aged 64 to 83 years , with noncardiac health problems , were r and omly assigned to a control group ( CG ; n = 17 ) or a 16-week exercise group ( EG ; 3 hr/wk , n = 18 ) . Nine of the control and 13 of the exercise subjects completed the study . All EG dropouts were due to illness . EG attendance averaged 87 % , and subjects trained at a heart rate ( HR ) of 103 + /- 5 beats/min ( SD ) ( 98 % of prescription HR ) . Though EG test responses showed a tendency to improve , none reached statistical significance . This result was affected by the small number completing the study and the variability inherent in such a sample . Though these impaired elderly subjects enthusiastically and safely participated with high attendance and at an exercise intensity adequate to expect benefit , measurable training effects were not demonstrated
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 .