Citation

Aartolahti E, Lönnroos E, Hartikainen S, Häkkinen A. Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Central Finland Health Care District, Jyvaskyla, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s40520-019-01155-0

PMID

30830597

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reductions in muscle strength and poor balance may lead to mobility limitations in older age. AIMS: We assessed the effects of long-term once-weekly strength and balance training (SBT) on muscle strength and physical functioning in a community-based sample of older adults.

METHODS: 182 individuals [130 women and 52 men, mean age 80 (SD ± 3.9) years] underwent supervised SBT as part of the Geriatric Multidisciplinary Strategy for the Good Care of the Elderly study. Training was offered once a week for 2.3 years. Isometric knee extension and flexion strength, chair rise, maximal walking speed, timed up and go (TUG) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were measured at baseline, after 2-year training and at post intervention follow-up. A linear mixed model was used to examine the change in physical functioning over time.

RESULTS: During the intervention, both women (2.5 s, p < 0.001) and men (1.4 s, p = 0.013) improved their chair rise capacity. Women's knee extension and flexion strength improved by 14.1 N (p = 0.003) and 16.3 N (p < 0.001), respectively. Their maximal walking speed also improved by 0.08 m/s (p < 0.001). In men, no changes in muscle strength or walking speed occurred during training or follow-up. No changes in BBS and TUG were observed at the end of the intervention, but decrease in BBS was observed at post-intervention follow-up in men.

CONCLUSIONS: In community-dwelling older adults with variety in health and functioning supervised strength and balance training once a week may help to prevent age-related decline in mobility and muscle strength.

Language: en

Keywords

Balance; Exercise; Geriatric assessment; Intervention; Physical performance; Resistance training