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 .
Body composition in elderly men: effect of dietary modification during strength training.
OBJECTIVE To assess how dietary change affects gain in strength and muscle mass during heavy resistance training of elderly men . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . INTERVENTION During 12 weeks of resistance training of knee extensors and flexors , a daily supplement of 560 + /- 16 kcal/day ( 17 % energy from protein , 43 % from carbohydrate , 40 % from fat ) was r and omly assigned to six men ( S ) while five men ( U ) received no supplement .  Food intake , strength , whole body composition , and midthigh composition by CT scan were assessed before training and at 6 and 12 weeks . SETTING The men were out patients but lived in a Metabolic Research Unit during the three assessment s. PARTICIPANTS Eleven healthy men aged 61 to 72 years . RESULTS Densitometry showed no change over time in fat or fat-free mass . However , the S men increased ( P less than 0.05 ) weight , skinfold thickness at six sites , subcutaneous midthigh fat , and creatinine excretion ; in all men , changes in these values and in midthigh muscle were proportional to changes in reported energy intake ( P less than 0.05 ) . There was midthigh muscle hypertrophy in both groups , but it was greater in S than U ( P less than 0.01 ) . Both groups gained strength ( P less than 0.001 ) with no effect of diet . CONCLUSIONS During physical rehabilitation of the elderly , dietary intake may influence the increase in lean as well as adipose tissue without altering strength gain . These preliminary findings should be confirmed by a larger study with sedentary controls
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 .