Explosive heavy-resistance training in old and very old adults

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The below study demonstrated that explosive-type heavy-resistance

training seems to be safe and well tolerated in healthy women even in

the eighth decade of life and elicits adaptive neuromuscular changes

in selected physiological variables that are commonly associated with

the risk of falls and disability in aged individuals.

Explosive heavy-resistance training in old and very old adults:

changes in rapid muscle force, strength and power

P. Caserotti 1,2 , P. Aagaard 1,2 , J. Buttrup Larsen 3 , L. Puggaard

1,2

elderly • aging • strength training • power • countermovement jump

ABSTRACT

Age-related decline in muscle power predicts falls, motor impairments

and disability. Recent guidelines suggested that training programs

should be tailored to maximize muscle power. This study investigated

the effects of 12 weeks of explosive-type heavy-resistance training

(75–80% of 1 repetition maximum) in old (60–65 years, TG60) and very

old (80–89 years, TG80) community-dwelling women. Training was

performed with maximal intentional acceleration of the training load

during the concentric movement phase. Maximal isometric voluntary

muscle strength (MVC), rapid force capacity, assessed as rate of

force development (RFD), and impulse, maximal muscle power during a

countermovement jump (CMJ) and during unilateral leg extension task

(LEP) were evaluated. RFD, impulse and MVC increased by 51%, 42% and

28% in TG80, and by 21%, 18% and 18% in TG60, respectively. CMJ jump

height increased by 18% and 10% in TG80 and TG60, respectively, while

jump peak power increased in TG60 (5%). Finally, LEP increased 28% in

TG80 and 12% in TG60.

These findings demonstrate that explosive-type heavy-resistance

training seems to be safe and well tolerated in healthy women even in

the eighth decade of life and elicits adaptive neuromuscular changes

in selected physiological variables that are commonly associated with

the risk of falls and disability in aged individuals.

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Carruthers

Wakefield, UK