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 .
The Effects of Resistance Training and Walking on Functional Fitness in Advanced Old Age
The authors assessed the effects of resistance training and walking exercise on measures of functional fitness .  Sixty-four volunteers ( average age 83.5 years ) from an independent-living facility were r and omly assigned to walking , resistance training , or control groups . Participants in the walking and resistance-training groups engaged in two exercise sessions per week for 16 weeks . Measures of functional fitness included upper and lower body strength , hip and shoulder flexibility , agility and balance , coordination , blood pressure , and resting heart rate . Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine pretest to posttest differences . Both exercise groups showed significant improvements relative to control group in upper and lower body strength , shoulder flexibility , and agility and balance exercise . Findings demonstrate that exercise can lead to improvements in multiple domains of functional fitness even among very old , previously sedentary individuals , possibly making activities of daily living easier to perform
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 .