Functional capacity improves in-line with neuromuscular performance after 12 weeks of non-linear periodization strength training in the elderly

Abstract

The present study highlights the exact cause that improved the functional capabilities during resistance training are currently unknown.

Inter-Individual Rapid Force Improvements after Mixed Session and Traditional Periodization in Aging Adults: A Randomized Trial

“…The similar 5-RM: BM improvements following 9 weeks of resistance training for MSP (9.3%) and TP (5.2%) groups was not expected by our initial hypothesis, but are in agreement with previous studies that investigated different periodization models in aging [3,4,36,40] and studies with older subjects [5,12,13,20,28,34,50]. It was expected that MSP would elicit faster improvements during the intervention period because adopted sets of maximal strength during the first training block, while TP adopted only during the second block.…”

“…The study novelty was the adoption of a new periodization model (i.e., MSP) that includes sets for hypertrophy, maximal strength, and power development within the same training session. This type of periodization has the intention to stimulate the abovementioned characteristics more frequently and during the entire intervention period, in contrast to previous studies, which adopted hypertrophy, maximal strength, or power specificity in different training sessions or distinct phases of the periodization; [12,13,20,28,42,50]. Both periodization models induced improvements in 5-RM: BM , and PT but not for PT: BM .…”

“…It is important to highlight that normalizing dynamic strength by body mass allows the interpretation of muscular strength induced regardless of changes in body composition, potentially influenced by neural adaptations [24]. The improvements in 5-RM: BM have large clinical relevance to aging adults since horizontal leg-press 1-RM normalized by body mass is related to older adult's functional capacity [28], which could explain the functional capacity improvements for aging adults [3].…”

“…Rapid force capacity reflects how fast an individual produces force in a short time interval (~ 250 ms) and it is usually measured by the rate of force/torque development (RTD) or impulse at earlier (~ 0-75 ms) and later phases (~ 150-250 ms) [27]. Low levels of maximal and rapid force negatively influence ability of daily living activities (i.e., functional capacity among aging adults) [28,31,32] and play a role in their postural sway and static and dynamic balance [17]. Therefore, low levels of maximal and rapid force increase risks of falling [22] that can result in fractures, leading to prolonged bed rest (e.g., hospitalization), causing particular and government economic burden [21,44].…”

“…Until now, there is a wide body of evidence relating expressive results on maximal force independent of the periodization model on aging adults. However, the rate of force development results are ambiguous [9,28,50], even when fast concentric velocities are introduced [12,13]. Furthermore, these increments are surrounded by a great heterogeneity among subjects from the same gender and age because training adaptation variability is natural [2,18,33].…”