Resistance training for activity limitations in older adults with skeletal muscle function deficits: a systematic review

Figures & data

Figure 1 Literature search strategy, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Abbreviations: AACPDM, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine; ICF, International Classification of Functioning; PD, Parkinson’s disease; MS, multiple sclerosis; CVA, cerebrovascular accident.

Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Study	Population (age ± SD)	Intervention characteristics	Functional outcomes
Gonzalez et al^Citation23	M&F 71.1±6.1	2 days/week for 6 weeks.* Dynamic warm-up. Full-body progressive resistance training (RT) with three sets of 8–15 repetitions. Intensity based on OMNI scale of perceived exertion	Single Leg Balance (SLB) d=0.47
Granacher et al^Citation24	M 67.0±1.0	1-hour session, 3 days/week for 13 weeks. 10-minute warm-up and cool-down on bike. Bilateral lower extremity (BLE) regimen of four exercises with three sets of 10 repetitions; 2-minute rest between sets. RT load set at 80% of 1 repetition maximum (1 RM), adjusted weekly	Functional Reach (FR) d=5.28 Tandem Walk Test Forwards d=3.80 Backwards d=4.20
Granacher et al^Citation25	M&F 70.8±4.1	1-hour session, 2 days/week for 9 weeks. Progressive RT for frontal, dorsal, rotational, and lateral core muscles with 3–4 sets of 15–20 repetitions holding contraction for 15–20 seconds; 30 seconds rest between sets and 2 minutes rest between exercises	FR d=1.49 Timed Up and Go (TUG) d=0.49 10-Meter Walk d=0.85
Idland et al^Citation31	F 91.3±1.4	1-hour session, 2 days/week for 12 weeks 10-minute aerobic warm-up. Four progressive compound exercises for BLE and back muscles with 2–3 sets of 8–12 repetitions. Load was increased when participant could perform 1–2 repetitions above desired amount	TUG d=1.45 Normal Gait Speed d=1.98 30-Second Chair Stands d=2.42
Kahle and Tevald^Citation26	M&F 76.5±6.9	20–35-minute session, 3 days/week for 6 weeks. Isometric and dynamic contractions of the core muscles focusing on slow and controlled motions with 5–25 seconds per repetition; 1–2-minute rest between sets. Intensity was progressed every 2 weeks	FR d=1.3 Star Excursion Balance Test d=1.9 Curl Up d=4.4
Kobayashi et al^Citation27	M&F 67.5±5.23	3 days/week for 8 weeks.* Full body beginning movement load training: movement corresponds to an axial rotation about the involved limb segments to facilitate nonplanar motion. Resistance varies through ROM. Participants performed 5–7 sets of 15 repetitions. Exercises were performed at 30% 1 RM and the intensity remained unchanged	Timed Chair Rise d=0.97 Timed Eyes Closed SLB d=0.81 Timed Stair Ascent d=0.50 Timed Stair Descent d=0.77
Lustosa et al^Citation28	F 72.0±4.0	1-hour session, 3 days/week for 10 weeks Exercises targeted large BLE muscle groups with three sets of eight repetitions using 70%–75% 1 RM	TUG d=0.32 10-Meter Walk Test d=0.70
Nicholson et al^Citation29	M&F 66.0±4.0	1-hour session, 2 days/week for 26 weeks BodyPump: full body, prechoreographed group exercise class utilizing low weight and very high reps (around 70–100) per body part. Intensity was set at 10%–30% 1 RM	TUG d=0.81 Normal Gait Speed d=0.95 Fast Gait Speed d=0.63 Chair Stand Test d=0.26
Pamukoff et al^Citation32	M&F 70.8±4.4	1-hour session, 3 days/week for 6 weeks Exercises targeted large muscle groups of the BLE. Performed at 50% 1 RM with three sets of 8–10 repetitions; 2–3 minutes rest between sets	Max Forward Lean d=0.82 Max Lateral Lean d=0.88
Persch et al^Citation30	F 61.1±4.3	3 days/week for 12 weeks.* BLE strengthening exercises performed on pulley machines. Two sets of 10–12 repetitions with 2-minute rest in-between sets. Intensity was increased when the participant completed more than 12 reps. Verbal encouragement was given at the end of each exercise series	Gait Speed d=2.41 Stride Length d=3.09 Cadence d=4.09 Toe Clearance d=0.33
Yamada et al^Citation33	M&F 75.8±8.0	1-hour session, 2 days/week for 50 weeks. 15-minute aerobic warm-up and 10-minute stretching cool-down at end. Exercises on resistance-training machines targeted BLE and trunk muscles. Participants performed three sets of 10 repetitions on each machine	TUG Frail d=0.37 SLB Frail d=0.22 FR Frail d=0.47 Five Chair Stand Frail d=0.24 Falls Efficacy Scale Frail d=0.60

Notes:

* Duration of exercise session not specified. d between-groups effect size, calculated as Cohen’s d.

Abbreviations: FR, Functional Reach test; SD, standard deviation; SLB, Single Leg Balance test; TUG, Timed Up and Go test; M, male; F, female; BLE, bilateral lower extremity; ROM, range of motion, RT, resistance training.

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