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 .
Effect of low-intensity versus high-intensity resistance training on the functioning of the institutionalized frail elderly
Frailty has emerged as an important risk factor for disability . Age-related declines in physical and physiological function lead to increased risk of loss of independence and poor quality of life . Recent evidence has shown the effectiveness of physical exercise programmes in preventing or reversing frailty . The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the functioning of frail elderly individuals after undergoing  resistance training  for 3 days a week for 8 weeks . The effectiveness of exercise training was investigated in 48 frail elderly individuals who were r and omly assigned to the following intervention groups : high-intensity ( HI ; n=16 ; age : 69–96 years ) or low-intensity ( LI ; n=16 ; age : 77–93 years ) strength training groups or a control group ( n=16 ; age : 76–93 years ) with no specific exercise programme . Participants were assessed for muscle strength , physical function , activities of daily living , depression and quality of life . The HI group had significantly better results ( P<0.05 ) on the Short Physical Performance Test than the LI group ; however , the LI group did show a significant improvement in those scores , whereas the scores of the control group worsened . Results for the other evaluations were similarly favourable in both exercise groups ( P>0.05 ) . The study showed that LI exercise was as effective as HI exercise for most parameters tested . Exercise training is useful for the prevention or treatment of frailty , as it improves functioning by contributing positively to muscle strength , gait , balance and quality of life
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 .