Moderate Intensity Is a Better Stimulus to Induce Quadripecs Femoris Power in Elderly Adults

Abstract

Introduction: The best strategy for improving knee extensor power, a major functional capacity indicator in older adults, is power training. Nonetheless, the training intensity required to induce optimal gains is yet to be found. Objective: Our purpose was to compare knee extensor peak power responses between low, moderate, and high intensity load conditions (30%, 50% and 70% of 1RM). Methods: Thirteen sedentary elderly women performed six knee extensions in each load condition, calculating knee extensor mechanical work/power output and knee extension peak angular velocity. Results: No difference in peak power was found between the high (207.0 ± 68.1 W) and moderate (206.1 ± 71.6 W) load conditions (p = 0.994), and both had higher values (p ≤0.004) than the low intensity condition (135.6 ± 56.3 W). Conclusion: Moderate load at 50% of 1RM appears to be the preferred strategy for inducing knee extensor power output because in contrast with the high intensity condition, the moderate load yielded higher angular peak velocity, which is also a functional indicator. Level of Evidence ll; Therapeutic studies -Investigating treatment results.

¿Bandas elásticas o equipos de gimnasio para el entrenamiento de adultos mayores? (Elastic bands or gym equipment for the training of older adults?)

“…Por lo tanto, seis semanas de entre-namiento muscular no serían suficientes para lograr cambios significativos a nivel de masa muscular, hecho que ya se ha planteado en investigaciones previas, incluso, con mayor tiempo de entrenamiento (Fritz et al, 2018). Por otra parte, es probable que considerar ejercicios que involucran grandes grupos musculares para el entrenamiento del tren inferior y superior, haya reducido los efectos de nuestra intervención, ya que otras investigaciones han conseguido mejoras significativas con ejercicios aislados para el pectoral mayor, deltoides y cuadriceps femoral (Bergquist et al, 2018;Pinho et al, 2018).…”