PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .
Strength and Aging: An Exploratory Study
Strength measurements were administered to 52 men ranging in age from 42 to 83 years , who were then r and omly assigned within their respective age group to either the  Isometric-training Group ( ITG ) or to the  Control-exercise Group ( CEG )  . At the conclusion of a six-week training program all initial measurements were again administered . No significant differences were found in ( 1 ) strength trainability by age group , and ( 2 ) in strength trainability by muscle group when the upper-extremity-strength ratios were compared with the lower-extremity-strength ratios . When the initial and final strength scores of the ITG were subjected to a t test for correlated sample s , the findings included : ( 1 ) the four age groups of the ITG experienced statistically significant gains in strength for six of the eight strength measurements , and ( 2 ) as age increased , strength trainability appeared to decrease
PRT had a large positive effect on strength ( 41 trials , 1955 participants ) , but there was statistical heterogeneity that was not explained by differences in study quality , participant characteristics or the exercise program .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS PRT appears to be an effective intervention to increase strength in older people and has a positive effect on some functional limitations .
However , the effect of this intervention on more substantive outcomes such as measures of disability or HRQOL remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Muscle weakness in old age , is associated with physical disability and an increased risk of falls .
Progressive resistance strength ( PRT ) training exercises ( i.e. movements performed against a specific external force that is regularly increased during training ) are design ed to increase strength in older people .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of PRT on measures of physical disability , functional limitation and impairment in older people  , and identify adverse events .