Conclusions This review provides evidence that RT has a moderate positive effect on self-reported disability/function  in old people with or at risk for disability .
The effects are strongly associated with effects on objective measures of lower body functional capacity
Background Self-reported disability has a strong negative impact on older people ’s  quality of life and is often associated with the need for assistance and health care services .
Resistance training ( RT ) has been repeatedly shown to improve muscle function ( e.g. strength ) and functional capacity ( e.g. gait speed , chair-rise ) in older adults with functional limitations .
Nevertheless , it is unclear whether such objective ly assessed improvements translate into a reduction in self-reported disability .
Objectives To assess : i ) whether and to what extent RT interventions have an effect on self-reported disability in older adults ( ≥65 years ) with functional limitations or disability ; and ii ) whether the effects on self-reported disability are associated with changes in objective measures of muscle strength and functional capacity across studies .
Is lower extremity strength gain associated with improvement in physical performance and disability in frail, community-dwelling elders?
BACKGROUND Strength loss is strongly associated with functional decline and is reversible with exercise . The effect of increased strength on function has not been clearly established . The purpose of this study was to determine whether strength gain is associated with improvement in physical performance and disability . METHODS One hundred functionally impaired community-dwelling men and women ( 77.6 + /- 7.6 yrs ) were tested at baseline and outcome for lower extremity strength , physical performance , and disability . After r and om group assignment , exercise participants received strengthening exercises in their homes three times a week for 10 weeks while control subjects continued their normal activities . Using multiple regression techniques , the relationship between strength gain and improvement in physical performance and disability was assessed , controlling for age , depression , and baseline strength . RESULTS A significant impact of strength gain on mobility skills ( p = .0009 ) was found . The impact of strength gain on chair rise performance was significant in participants who were more impaired ( p = .04 ) . Strength gain was associated with gain in gait speed ( p = .02 ) and in falls efficacy ( p = .05 ) , but not with other balance , endurance , or disability measures . CONCLUSIONS Lower extremity strength gain is associated with gains in chair rise performance , gait speed , and in mobility tasks such as gait , transfers , stooping , and stair climbing , but not with improved endurance , balance , or disability . Strength gain is also associated with improvement in confidence in mobility . Factors that may influence the ability of strength gain to affect function are initial level of frailty and specificity of exercise . These results support the idea that strength training is an intervention that can potentially improve physical health status in many frail elders
Conclusions This review provides evidence that RT has a moderate positive effect on self-reported disability/function  in old people with or at risk for disability .
The effects are strongly associated with effects on objective measures of lower body functional capacity
Background Self-reported disability has a strong negative impact on older people ’s  quality of life and is often associated with the need for assistance and health care services .
Resistance training ( RT ) has been repeatedly shown to improve muscle function ( e.g. strength ) and functional capacity ( e.g. gait speed , chair-rise ) in older adults with functional limitations .
Nevertheless , it is unclear whether such objective ly assessed improvements translate into a reduction in self-reported disability .
Objectives To assess : i ) whether and to what extent RT interventions have an effect on self-reported disability in older adults ( ≥65 years ) with functional limitations or disability ; and ii ) whether the effects on self-reported disability are associated with changes in objective measures of muscle strength and functional capacity across studies .