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 .
Effects of a one-year high-intensity versus low-intensity resistance training program on bone mineral density in older women.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-month resistance training program , of two different intensities , on bone mineral density ( BMD ) in healthy , older women . Twenty-six Caucasian women ( aged 65 - 79 years ) completed the study . Subjects were r and omly assigned to one of three groups : high-intensity ( HI ; n = 8) , low-intensity ( LI ; n = 7 ) , and control ( CON ; n = 11 ) . The active groups performed 10 exercises , 3 days/week under supervision . Exercise intensity was maintained at 80 % of one-repetition maximum ( 1-RM ) for the HI groups , and at 40 % 1-RM for the LI group . The volume of work was maintained constant between the two groups by assigning the LI group twice as many repetitions for each exercise . Maximal muscular strength and BMD of the lumbar spine and total hip were measured at baseline and at 12 months . Strength was evaluated using the 1-RM method , and BMD was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Exercise session attendance was similar for the two groups ( 81.0 % HI ; 76.8 % LI ) . Muscular strength improved in the exercisers compared with the CON group ( p < or = 0.05 ) . Percentage change in lumbar spine BMD was 0.7 + /- 1.9 % , 0.5 + /- 2.4 % , and -0.1 + /- 2.3 % for the HI , LI , and CON groups , respectively . Percentage change in total hip BMD was 0.8 + /- 2.3 % ( HI ) , 1.0 + /- 1.7 % ( LI ) , and 0.9 + /- 1.3 % ( CON ) . Group differences in BMD change were not significant ( p > 0.05 ) . These findings suggest that high-intensity and low-intensity resistance training regimens effectively increase muscular strength , but not lumbar spine or total hip BMD , in healthy , older women
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 .