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 .
Resilience to exercise detraining in healthy older adults.
OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of stopping and restarting two types of exercise programs in older adults . DESIGN A controlled , longitudinal study that utilized r and om assignment of volunteers . Treatments were exercise programs design ed to improve cardiovascular or neuromuscular fitness . MEASUREMENTS Dependent variables measured before and after implementation of treatments were : maximum oxygen consumption , oxygen pulse , treadmill and cycle training workloads , quadriceps isokinetic peak torque , quadriceps isokinetic total work , and quadriceps training workload . MAIN RESULTS Exercise training was highly effective in improving cardiovascular endurance or muscular strength . Ten weeks of exercise detraining result ed in small losses in newly gained cardiovascular capacity but more noticeable losses in muscular strength . Exercise retraining was accomplished easily using cardiovascular or resistive exercises . The functional benefits of restarting a cardiovascular exercise program appeared additive despite a 10-week intervening period of exercise detraining . In this age group , cardiovascular exercise produced limited improvements in muscular strength , and resistive exercise training positively influenced cardiovascular exercise performance . CONCLUSIONS Older adults are fairly resilient to 10 weeks of cardiovascular detraining and retain newly gained muscular strength for at least 5 weeks , despite an interruption of formal exercise . An occasional missed exercise session or temporary cessation of habitual exercise should not be a cause for distress in exercising older adults . Instead , they should realize the case with which they may restart their exercise program and also appreciate the generalized fitness benefits that can be ascribed to becoming more active
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 .