Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of resistance training and detraining on muscle strength and functional performance of older adults aged 80 to 88 years

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and aims: Limited data exist on the effects of resistance training and detraining on functional performance in very old adults aged >80 years. First, to determine the effects of an 8-week resistance exercise program on muscle strength and functional performance in very old men. Second, to examine the effect of a 6-week detraining period in muscle strength and functional performance. Methods: Twenty-two men, aged >80 years, were randomized to three groups: resistance exercise-detraining group (RDT; n=8), resistance exercise group (RT; n=7) and control group (CON; n=7). RT and RDT groups performed an 8 week resistance exercise program for lower and upper muscle groups, two times a week. Thereafter, RDT underwent a 6-week detraining period, whereas the RT group continued resistance exercise. 3-RM strength, 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD), chair rising time, and Timed-Up and Go (TUG) tests were assessed at baseline, and at week 8 and week 14. Results: Significant improvements were observed in 3-RM strength (25%, to 55%; p<0.001) and functional performance (15 to 25%; p<0.001 ) tests, in RDT and RT after 8 weeks of exercise. RT continued to improve muscle strength and 6-MWD significantly (p<0.05) until the end of the exercise period, whereas significant declines in muscle strength (60 to 87%; p<0.05) and functional performance (36 to 70%; p<0.05) gains occurred during the exercise period were observed in RDT during the &week detraining period. No significant differences were observed in the control group. Conclusions: Results indicate that a resistance exercise program induces favorable muscular and functional adaptations in very old adults. However, a significant part of the favorable adaptations obtained after resistance exercise may be lost within 6 weeks of detraining. Therefore, very old adults should follow a long-term and systematic routine of exercise throughout life, in order to improve and maintain their physical functions and to ameliorate their life status.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lindle RS, Metter EJ, Lynch NA et al. Age and gender comparisons of muscle strength in 654 women and men aged 20–93. J Appl Physiol 1997; 83: 1581–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Shigematsu R, Rantanen T, Saari P et al. Motor speed and lower extremity strength as predictors of fall-related bone fractures in elderly individuals. Aging Clin Exp Res 2006; 18: 320–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fiatarone MA, O’Neill EF, Ryan ND et al. Exercise training and nutritional supplementation for physical frailty in very elderly people. N Engl J Med 1994; 30: 1769–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Fiatarone MA, Marks EC, Ryan ND, Meredith CN, Lipsitz LA, Evans WJ. High intensity strength training in nonagenarians: effects on skeletal muscle. JAMA 1990; 263: 3029–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Galvao DA, Taaffe DR. Resistance exercise dosage in older adults: single- versus multiset effects on physical performance and body composition. J Am Geriatr Soc 2005; 53: 2090–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kalapotharakos VI, Michalopoulos M, Tokmakidis SP, Godolias G, Gourgoulis V. Effects of a heavy and a moderate resistance training on functional performance in older adults. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19: 652–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hakkinen K, Alen M, Kallinen M, Newton RU, Kraemer WJ. Neuromuscular adaptation during prolonged strength training, detraining and re-strength training in middle-aged and elderly people. Eur J Appl Physiol 2000; 83: 51–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Harridge SDR, Kryger A, Stensgaard A. Knee extensor strength, activation, and size in very elderly people following strength training. Muscle Nerve 1999; 22: 831–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Toraman NF, Ayceman N. Effects of six weeks of detraining on retention of functional fitness of old people after nine weeks of multicomponent training. Br J Sports Med 2005; 39: 565–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pendergast DR, Fisher NM, Calkins E. Cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and metabolic alterations with age leading to frailty. J Gerontol 1993; 48: 61–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Taaffe DR, Marcus R. Dynamic muscle strength alterations to detraining and retraining in elderly men. Clin Physiol 1997; 17: 311–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Timonen L, Rantanen T, Ryynanen OP, Taimela S, Timonen TE, Sulkava R. A randomized controlled trial of rehabilitation after hospitalization in frail older women: effects on strength, balance and mobility. Scan J Med Sci Sports 2002; 12: 186–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kempen GI, Suumerijer TP. The development of a hierarchical polychotomous ADL-IADL scale for noninstitutionalized elders. Gerontologist 1990; 30: 497–502.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Folstein MF, Folstein S, McHugh PR. Mini-mental state: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatry Res 1975; 12: 189–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lord SR, Menz HB. Physiologic, psychologic, and health predictors of 6-minute walk performance in older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002; 83: 907–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Podsiadlo D, Richardson S. The timed “up and go” test. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1989; 67: 387–9.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kallman DA, Plato CC, Tobin JD. The role of muscle loss in the age-related decline of grip strength: cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives. J Gerontol 1990; 45: M82–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lexell J, Downham DY, Larsson Y, Bruhn E, Morsing B. Heavy-resistance training in older Scandinavian men and women: short- and long-term effects on arm and leg muscles. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1995; 5: 329–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pyka G, Lindenberger E, Charette S, Marcus R. Muscle strength and fiber adaptations to a year-long resistance training program in elderly men and women. J Gerontol 1994; 49: M22–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kalapotharakos VI, Michalopoulou M, Godolias G, Tokmakidis SP, Malliou PV, Gourgoulis V. The effects of high- and moderateresistance training on muscle function in the elderly. J Aging Phys Act 2004; 12: 131–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kryger AI, Andersen JL. Resistance training in the oldest old: consequences for muscle strength, fiber types, fiber size, and MHC isoforms. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2007; 17: 422–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sforzo GA, McManis BG, Black D, Luniewski D, Scriber KC. Resilience to exercise detraining in healthy older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 1995; 43: 209–15.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Ettinger WH Jr, Burns R, Messier SP et al. A randomized trial comparing aerobic exercise and resistance exercise with a health education program in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. The Fitness Arthritis and Seniors Trial (FAST). JAMA 1997; 277: 25–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Tokmakidis SP, Spassis AT, Volaklis KA. Training, detraining and retraining effects after a water-based exercise program in patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiology 2008; 111: 257–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kervio G, Carre F, Ville NS. Reliability and intensity of the six-minute walk test in healthy elderly subjects. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003; 35: 169–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ades PA, Ballor DL, Ashikaga T, Utton JL, Nair KS. Weight training improves walking endurance in healthy elderly persons. Ann Intern Med 1996; 124: 568–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Buchner DM, deLateur BJ. The importance of skeletal muscle strength to physical function in older adults. Ann Behav Med 1991; 13: 91–8.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Buchner DM, Larson EB, Wagner EH, Koepsell TD, de Lateur BJ. Evidence of a non-linear relationship between leg strength and gait speed. Age Ageing 1996; 25: 386–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Rantanen T, Guralnik JM, Izmirlian G et al. Association of muscle strength with maximum walking speed in disabled older women. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1998; 77: 326–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, 69100, Greece

    Vasilios I. Kalapotharakos & Savvas P. Tokmakidis MD

  2. Physiotherapist, Haidari, Athens, Greece

    Konstantinos Diamantopoulos

Authors
  1. Vasilios I. Kalapotharakos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Konstantinos Diamantopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Savvas P. Tokmakidis MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Savvas P. Tokmakidis MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kalapotharakos, V.I., Diamantopoulos, K. & Tokmakidis, S.P. Effects of resistance training and detraining on muscle strength and functional performance of older adults aged 80 to 88 years. Aging Clin Exp Res 22, 134–140 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324786

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324786

Keywords

Search

Navigation