Influence of inertial resistance squat exercise protocol based on novel exercise intensity determination on physical fitness of older adult women

Abstract

<p>The aim of the study was to examine practical implications and actual effects of the 8-week progressive resistance exercise protocol with the custom-made inertial device on sit-to-stand, 6- MWT, functional reach, up-and-go test results and Rate of Perceived exertion (RPE) among older adult women (age 65-74). Thirty-seven healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 11) and to two exercise – inertial (n = 12) and traditional (n = 14) – groups. The participants performed hip belt squats on the inertial device and kettlebell squats, respectively. Exercise intensity was relatively adjusted using mass moment of inertia (MMI) of the cylindrical weight and %1RM. Time under tension was equalized between groups by the type of the exercise executed. Tests were performed before and after the intervention. Moreover, RPE was monitored after each exercise set. We used two-way repeated measures ANOVA to assess exercise-related differences in test results and to assess intensityrelated differences in RPE. The Senior Fitness Test results significantly differed in pre and post measurements, regardless of the group. A significant time x group interaction was only found in Sit-to-stand test results. RPE results significantly varied from each other across intensities. Statistically different results among groups were only found at the highest intensity (70%). The results indicate that inertial resistance exercise using the novel exercise intensity determination on the inertial device is a useful and less strenuous alternative to traditional resistance exercise among older adult women while performing squats.</p>

Flywheel Training in Older Adults—A Systematic Review

“…The highest number of participants was 45 [25], while the lowest was 12 [26][27][28]. A female sample of participants only was found in two studies [25,31], a male sample was found in two studies as well [27,28], while the rest of the five studies had a mixed gender sample [24,26,29,30,32]. The participants were healthy in most of the included studies, and the physically active were found in five studies [25,[27][28][29]32], except the case of Fernandez-Gonzalo et al [26], where the sample consisted of chronic stroke patients.…”

“…The longest experimental program lasted 13 weeks [32], while the shortest was 4 weeks [25]. Trainings per week were not more than three times and not less than two times, and only one study did not show that information [31]. The sets varied from 1 to 4, and the repetition within also varied from 7 to 22 or from 2 to 7 repetitions maximum.…”

The “Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology” Journal Club Series: Utility and Advantages of the Eccentric Training through the Isoinertial System

“…As eccentric muscle strength declines with age to a lesser degree than other types of muscle strength, it may represent an effective stimulus for adaptation in older adults, playing a key role in successful ageing [ 49 , 50 , 51 ]. In particular, isoinertial resistance exercise has been suggested as a potential training modality in certain aging populations ready for higher resistance exercise stress [ 52 , 53 ], with studies mainly focusing on knee extension [ 53 , 54 , 55 ] and squat [ 56 , 57 ] exercises.…”

“…Flywheel knee extension trainings (8–12 weeks; 3 times/week; 7–12 repetitions; 1–4 sets per session) elicited beneficial modifications in muscle mass, strength, and architecture, and improved the quality of life and functional performances in 68-year old men [ 53 , 55 ] and the peak knee extension power in 70-year old men and women [ 54 ]. Isoinertial squat trainings (6–8 weeks; 2–3 times/week; 9–15 repetitions; 2–4 sets per session) improved mobility, balance, mean concentric propulsive velocity, and power in 65-year old men and women [ 57 ], as well as physical and functional abilities in 68-year old women [ 56 ]. While strength-related gains could be expected after isoinertial resistance trainings, improvements in functional abilities, specifically balance, are quite intriguing.…”

“…While strength-related gains could be expected after isoinertial resistance trainings, improvements in functional abilities, specifically balance, are quite intriguing. In particular, the squat exercise, used in some studies [ 56 , 57 ], mirroring the sit-to-stand movement, could be one of the best isoinertial modality to perform in older adults, also being functional for activities of daily living. Isoinertial training could be responsible for a greater activation in hip and knee extensions, which made the older adults rely more on hip strategy when recovering from postural imbalance [ 57 ], for the increased tendon stiffness in the gastrocnemius, and for the higher degree of transfer effect of knee extensors loading on the ankle plantar flexors, improving balance performances [ 54 ].…”