Muscle strength training program in nonagenarians – a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES: The study aims to improve the functional capacity and quality of life (QOL) of nonagenarian women by implementing an individualized muscle strength training program in a geriatric residential care home. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial METHODS: Twenty-six elderly women were randomized into a control group (CG) and an intervention group (SG). The SG carried out a strength program with TheraBands® for 12 weeks, with two weekly sessions. The assessment tools that we used pre- and post-intervention were the Barthel index of daily living activities, the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTS) and timed up and go (TUG) test with wiva® sensors. RESULTS: The SG maintained the Barthel index scores for activities of daily living and improved in the FTSTS; the CG showed a significant decrease on both tests. The dynamic balance test showed significant differences between groups for the variables sit to stand, peak angular velocity, anterior-posterior range, turning, stand to sit, total time, and speed. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized muscle strength training programs may help promote healthy lifestyles in such populations by maintaining autonomy, improving function and balance.

Influence of Resistance Training on Gait & Balance Parameters in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

“…Twelve studies were included in the review, and all were published in the English language. The randomized controlled trials were conducted in the following countries: USA = 4 [24][25][26][27], Portugal = 2 [28,29], Australia = 1 [30], Brazil = 1 [31], Chile = 1 [32], Japan = 1 [33], Norway = 1 [34], and Spain = 1 [35]. The total number of participants analyzed in all studies was 499 (only including resistance-trained participants).…”

“…Eleven of the twelve studies had reported the gender of the participants and approximately 60% of them were female (149 males to 304 females). Three studies reported mean ages of ≥65-69.9 years [27,28,33], 6 studies reported mean ages between 70-79.9 years [24][25][26]29,31,32], two studies reported mean ages between 80-89.9 years [30,34], and one study reporting a mean age of >90 years [35].…”

“…Nine of the twelve studies recruited participants that were community-dwelling [24][25][26][27][28][31][32][33][34], whereas three studies recruited participants from residential care facilities [29,30,35]. Of those studies that had recruited participants from the community, only two had reported further underlying conditions; Nicklas et al included participants that were overweight or obese and Sylliaas et al investigated hip fracture patients [27,34].…”

“…Of those studies that had recruited participants from the community, only two had reported further underlying conditions; Nicklas et al included participants that were overweight or obese and Sylliaas et al investigated hip fracture patients [27,34]. Only one study with participants from residential care facilities reported further underlying conditions, and they reported on "frail" nonagenarians [35]. (Table 2) Resistance training intervention duration ranged greatly from 6 to 32 weeks, with one study reporting data for 6 weeks [25], one study reporting for 10 weeks [33], four studies reporting for 12 weeks [31,32,34,35], two studies reporting for 16 weeks [24,29], one study reporting for 20 weeks [27], one study reporting for 25 weeks [30], one study reporting for 26 weeks [26], and one study reporting for 32 weeks [28].…”

“…Only one study with participants from residential care facilities reported further underlying conditions, and they reported on "frail" nonagenarians [35]. (Table 2) Resistance training intervention duration ranged greatly from 6 to 32 weeks, with one study reporting data for 6 weeks [25], one study reporting for 10 weeks [33], four studies reporting for 12 weeks [31,32,34,35], two studies reporting for 16 weeks [24,29], one study reporting for 20 weeks [27], one study reporting for 25 weeks [30], one study reporting for 26 weeks [26], and one study reporting for 32 weeks [28]. All twelve studies described the frequency of training in "days/week"; the studies were split evenly with six studies conducting the intervention 2 days/week [25,[30][31][32][33]35] and six studies conducting the interventions 3 days/week [24,[26][27][28][29]34].…”