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 .
Randomized controlled trial of quadriceps training after proximal femoral fracture
Objective : To determine whether systematic progressive high-intensity quadriceps training increases leg extensor power and reduces disability in patients rehabilitating after proximal femoral fracture . Design : Open parallel group r and omized controlled trial comparing the addition of six weeks quadriceps training ( 40 patients ) with st and ard physiotherapy alone ( 40 patients ) . The training group exercised twice weekly , with six sets of 12 repetitions of knee extension ( both legs ) , progressing up to 80 % of their one-repetition maximum . Setting : Orthogeriatric unit , and community follow-up . Subjects : Eighty patients rehabilitating after proximal femoral fracture . Main outcome measures : Measurements of leg extensor power ( Nottingham Power Rig ) , functional mobility ( elderly mobility score ) , disability ( Barthel Index ) and quality of life ( Nottingham Health Profile ) were made at baseline , after six weeks ( at the end of the intervention ) and at 16 weeks . Results : Leg extensor power increased significantly in the quadriceps training group ( fractured leg mean improvement at six weeks 157 % ( st and ard error 16 ) , nonfractured leg 80 % ( 12 ) ) compared with the control group ( 63 % ( 11 ) and 26 % ( 8) respectively , unpaired Student 's t-test p = 0.007 and p = 0.01 for between-group comparisons ) . Significant benefits were maintained at 16 weeks . Quadriceps training result ed in a greater increase in elderly mobility scale score compared with st and ard rehabilitation ( between-group difference of 2.5 ( 95 % CI 1.1,3.8 ) at week 6 and 1.9 ( 0.4,3.4 ) at week 16 ) . Barthel score increased significantly from week 0 to 6 in the quadriceps training group compared with controls ( Mann – Whitney U-test p = 0.05 ) . Patients in the quadriceps training group scored significantly better in the energy subscore of the Nottingham Health Profile at the end of follow-up ( Mann – Whitney U-test p = 0.0185 ) . Conclusions : Progressive high-intensity quadriceps training in elderly proximal femoral fracture patients increased leg extensor power and reduced disability . This was accompanied by an increase in energy as measured by the Nottingham Health Profile . This intervention may provide a simple practical way of improving outcome in these patients
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 .