TY - JOUR
T1 - Weight training improves walking endurance in healthy elderly persons
AU - Ades, P. A.
AU - Ballor, D. L.
AU - Ashikaga, T.
AU - Utton, J. L.
AU - Nair, K. S.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Objective: To determine the effect of a resistance-training program on walking endurance in a healthy, community-dwelling elderly population. Design: 12-week randomized, controlled trial comparing a resistance-training group with a nonexercising control group. Setting: Hospital-affiliated outpatient exercise facility. Patients: 24 healthy men and women who were 65 years of age or older (mean age ± SD, 70.4 ± 4 years; range, 65 to 79 years). Measurements: The primary outcome variable was exhaustive submaximal walking time measured at an intensity of 80% of baseline peak aerobic capacity. Results: Participants in the resistance-training program increased submaximal walking endurance by 9 minutes (from 25 ± 4 minutes to 34 ± 9 minutes; P = 0.001), a 38% increase, whereas no change was seen in controls (20 ± 5 minutes to 19 ± 10 minutes; P > 0.2; P = 0.005 between groups). The relation between change in leg strength and change in walking endurance was significant (r = 0.48; P = 0.02). Neither group showed a change in peak aerobic capacity or in whole-body composition, although fat-free mass of the leg increased in the exercise group. Conclusions: Resistance training for 3 months improves both leg strength and walking endurance in healthy, community-dwelling elderly persons. This finding is relevant to older persons at risk for disability, because walking endurance and leg strength are important components of physical functioning.
AB - Objective: To determine the effect of a resistance-training program on walking endurance in a healthy, community-dwelling elderly population. Design: 12-week randomized, controlled trial comparing a resistance-training group with a nonexercising control group. Setting: Hospital-affiliated outpatient exercise facility. Patients: 24 healthy men and women who were 65 years of age or older (mean age ± SD, 70.4 ± 4 years; range, 65 to 79 years). Measurements: The primary outcome variable was exhaustive submaximal walking time measured at an intensity of 80% of baseline peak aerobic capacity. Results: Participants in the resistance-training program increased submaximal walking endurance by 9 minutes (from 25 ± 4 minutes to 34 ± 9 minutes; P = 0.001), a 38% increase, whereas no change was seen in controls (20 ± 5 minutes to 19 ± 10 minutes; P > 0.2; P = 0.005 between groups). The relation between change in leg strength and change in walking endurance was significant (r = 0.48; P = 0.02). Neither group showed a change in peak aerobic capacity or in whole-body composition, although fat-free mass of the leg increased in the exercise group. Conclusions: Resistance training for 3 months improves both leg strength and walking endurance in healthy, community-dwelling elderly persons. This finding is relevant to older persons at risk for disability, because walking endurance and leg strength are important components of physical functioning.
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U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-124-6-199603150-00005
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-124-6-199603150-00005
M3 - Article
C2 - 8597320
AN - SCOPUS:0029959922
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 124
SP - 568
EP - 572
JO - Annals of internal medicine
JF - Annals of internal medicine
IS - 6
ER -