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 .
Exercise training and heart rate variability in older adult female subjects.
INTRODUCTION Prior investigations in post-myocardial infa rct ion and healthy elderly subjects have established that heart rate variability ( HRV ) predicts mortality . Predominantly cross-sectional studies have shown an association between endurance training and measures of HRV . In a r and omized trial , this study sought to prospect ively compare the effects of endurance and strength training on HRV in 45 healthy elderly females ( average age 69.9 + /- 0.9 years ) . METHODS All subjects were rigorously screened to be normal by history , physical , blood tests , ECG , ETT and echocardiogram . All subjects were monitored for 24 hours by a 2-channel Holter before and after training .  Artifacts and arrhythmias were manually removed . Tapes were examined for st and ard measures of HRV . INTERVENTION 15 subjects were r and omized to endurance trained ( ET ) , 15 subjects to strength training ( ST )  , and  15 subjects to no training ( NT ) for six months . RESULTS Training result ed in a significant increase in VO2max in the ET ( + 7.4 % , p = 0.005 ) group only . There was a small but not significant decrease in HR with both the ET and ST groups . ET result ed in a significant increase in most time domain and all frequency domain measures of HRV . ST result ed in no significant change in HRV measures . CONCLUSION Strength training , as opposed to endurance training has no significant impact on HRV . This suggests that exercise interventions design ed to improve strength ( such as weight-lifting ) will have little to no impact on HRV , suggesting that aerobic and strength training operate through different mechanisms to reduce cardiac risk
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 .