<b><i>Background:</i></b> Handgrip strength measurements are feasible with older adults and a reliable indicator for vitality, physical function, and several risk factors in the ageing process. Interventions with exercise training induce a variety of strength, balance, and endurance improvements. The pooled transfer effects of exercise training on handgrip strength has not been investigated to date. Thus, the objective of this meta-analytical review is to examine the effects of different exercise training on handgrip strength in healthy community-dwelling older adults of 60 years or older. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The literature search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus) using the following search terms with Boolean conjunctions: (hand grip* OR grip strength OR grip power) AND (sport* OR train* OR exercis* OR strength OR intervention OR endurance OR resistance OR balance OR aerob*) AND (old* OR elder* OR senior*). Non-randomized and randomized controlled trials with an exercise training and handgrip strength as the outcome parameter were screened. Study quality was independently assessed by two researchers using the PEDro scale. Comparison of handgrip strength between the intervention and control groups was conducted by using the hedges g (including adjustment for small sample sizes), calculating standardized mean differences (SMDs). A random effects inverse-variance model was applied for statistical analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Twenty-four trials (mean PEDro score 5.8 ± 0.9) with a total of 3,018 participants (mean age 73.3 ± 6.0 years) were included. Small but significant effects (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) on handgrip strength were observed (SMD 0.28, 95% CI 0.13–0.44). Study heterogeneity (<i>I</i>² 56%) and the funnel shape for publication bias analyses were acceptable. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Meaningful but small transfer effects of a multitude of different training approaches on handgrip strength occurred in healthy community-dwelling older adults. Handgrip strength cannot clearly be recommended to assess general functional performance for all kinds of exercise programs, whereas task-specific training and multimodal training modes seem to provide an appropriate stimulus to also improve handgrip strength.

Besides strength and balance, flexibility is an important indicator of health-related physical fitness. Thus, the aim of this two-armed randomized controlled pilot trial was to investigate whether sauna yoga at a moderate temperature (50 °C) beneficially affects flexibility, strength, balance, and quality of life (QOL) in healthy elderly community dwellers. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (INT, n = 11, age: 68.7 ± 5.9) or control group (CON, n = 12, age: 69.3 ± 4.9), using the minimization method. Age, physical activity, gender, and the primary outcome flexibility were used as strata for group allocation. Both groups completed similar exercises in the sauna over eight weeks. Only the INT group was exposed to moderate temperatures of 50 °C. Large and statistically significant improvement in favor of the sauna group (INT) was observed for the chair sit-and-reach test (INT: +83%, CON +3%, p = 0.028, np2 = 0.24). The shoulder and lateral spine flexibility were not relevantly affected. Strength in the lower extremities merely showed a tendency to significant changes (INT: 16%, CON: 3%, p = 0.061, np2 = 0.181). Additionally, balance abilities, with eyes closed, improved (INT: 187%, CON +58%, p = 0.056, np2 = 0.189) in favor of the INT group. QOL only improved in favor of the INT for environmental dimension (INT: +7%, CON: 0%, p = 0.034, np2 = 0.227). These first but preliminary findings indicate that sauna yoga may serve as a promising and feasible means to improve flexibility in elderly people. Strength and balance do not meaningfully benefit from a sauna environment, although strength improved to a slightly higher extent in the sauna group. Future large-scale research is needed to elucidate underlying mechanisms and corroborate these findings.