Overall , home-based resistance exercise  can improve both strength and functional ability , but the improvements are generally small .
The intensity of the exercises might not progress sufficiently enough to produce large improvements in strength as a result of less supervision or a lack of motivation to increase the intensity further
Home-based resistance exercise is commonly used for individuals who might not have access or the ability to use traditional resistance exercise .
However , the extent to which home-based resistance exercise can improve both strength and functional ability has not been investigated in healthy older individuals using a systematic analysis .
Effects of Low‐Intensity Walk Training With Restricted Leg Blood Flow on Muscle Strength and Aerobic Capacity in Older Adults
Purpose Slow-walk training combined with restricted leg muscular blood flow ( KAATSU ) produces muscle hypertrophy and strength gains in young men , which may lead to increased aerobic capacity and functional fitness . The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of walk training combined with KAATSU on muscle size , strength , and functional ability , as well as aerobic capacity , in older participants . Methods A total of 19 active men and women , aged 60 to 78 years , were r and omized into either a KAATSU-walk training group ( n = 11 , K-walk ) or a nonexercising control group ( n = 8 , control ) . The K-walk group performed 20-minute treadmill walking ( 67 m/min ) , 5 days/wk for 6 weeks . Results Isometric ( 11 % ) and isokinetic ( 7%-16 % ) knee extension and flexion torques , muscle-bone cross-sectional area ( 5.8 % and 5.1 % for thigh and lower leg , respectively ) , as well as ultrasound-estimated skeletal muscle mass ( 6.0 % and 10.7 % for total and thigh , respectively ) increased ( P < .05 ) in the K-walk group but not in the control group . Functional ability also increased significantly only in the K-walk group ( P < .05 ) ; however , there was no change in the estimated peak oxygen uptake(absolute and relative to body mass ) for either group . Conclusion The results of the current study indicate that 6 weeks of KAATSU-walk training did not simultaneously improve cardiovascular and muscular fitness  of older participants . However , it significantly increased muscular size and strength as well as functional ability of active older men and women
Overall , home-based resistance exercise  can improve both strength and functional ability , but the improvements are generally small .
The intensity of the exercises might not progress sufficiently enough to produce large improvements in strength as a result of less supervision or a lack of motivation to increase the intensity further
Home-based resistance exercise is commonly used for individuals who might not have access or the ability to use traditional resistance exercise .
However , the extent to which home-based resistance exercise can improve both strength and functional ability has not been investigated in healthy older individuals using a systematic analysis .