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Heavy Resistance Training in Older Adults: Effects of Type Exercise on Functional Capacity, Maximal Muscle Strength and Power

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of type of exercise on the muscle strength and functional performance gains for lower-body in older adults after heavy resistance training. Twenty untrained older adults volunteers (8 men and 12 women) were randomized and placed into two groups: multi-joint exercise—MJ (65 ± 6 years) and single-joint exercise—SJ (62 ± 6 years). Participants were tested twice during control period, and resistance training (RT) effects were assessed after six (middle), and 12 (post) weeks of RT. On test day it was performed a five-repetition maximum (5-RM) tests for leg press (LP), leg extension (LE) and seated leg curl (SLC); stand up 30 s test (SU30), climbing (CS) and down (DS) stairs; time up and go (TUG) and squat jump (SJ). Each group trained 24 sessions. Main effects within and between groups were assessed by Anova. There were increases from pre to middle and post-training (p < 0.05) for 5-RM in all exercises, with no significant differences between groups. Regarding functional performance, CS and DS presented significant improvement after post-training for both groups, (p < 0.05), whereas no differences were observed in the SU30 and TUG test (p > 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the SJ variables after training period (p > 0.05). Multi- and single-joint exercises induced similar gains in the maximal strength and functional performance.

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Acknowledgements

FAPEAM, Foundation for Research Support of the State of Amazonas for PhD scholarship conceded to ES Bezerra (EDITAL N. 001/2014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomechanics Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil

    Ewertton de Souza Bezerra, Antônio Renato Pereira Moro, Raphael Luiz Sakugawa & Juliano Dal Pupo

  2. Human Performance Laboratory, Universidade Federal Do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil

    Ewertton de Souza Bezerra

  3. Exercise Research Laboratory, Physical Education School, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Eduardo Lusa Cadore

  4. Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain

    Mikel Izquierdo

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  1. Ewertton de Souza Bezerra
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  2. Antônio Renato Pereira Moro
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  3. Raphael Luiz Sakugawa
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  6. Juliano Dal Pupo
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Correspondence to Ewertton de Souza Bezerra.

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de Souza Bezerra, E., Moro, A.R.P., Sakugawa, R.L. et al. Heavy Resistance Training in Older Adults: Effects of Type Exercise on Functional Capacity, Maximal Muscle Strength and Power. Ageing Int 48, 1–15 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-021-09440-y

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