Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of High-Speed Power Training on Neuromuscular and Gait Functions in Frail Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment Despite Blunted Executive Functions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Clinical Trials
  • Original Research
  • Published:
The Journal of Frailty & Aging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Physical frailty and impaired executive function of the brain show similar pathophysiology. Both of these factors lead to dysfunction of neuromuscular and abilities in elderly. Highspeed power training (HSPT) has been determined to have positive effects on neuromuscular function and gait performance, as well as executive function in the elderly.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8-week HSPT on neuromuscular, gait and executive functions in frail elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design, setting and participants: We performed a randomized controlled trial of frail elderly from community and medical center in republic of Korea. Forty-two physically frail elderly with MCI were randomly allocated to control (n=22, age=74.22±4.46) and intervention groups (n=18, age=73.77±4.64). The intervention group was subjected to HSPT, 3 times weekly for 8 weeks.

Measurements

Isometric contraction of knee extension and flexion with electromyography (EMG) was measured to determine the neuromuscular function such as knee extensor strength, rate of torque development, movement time, pre-motor time, motor time, rate of EMG rise, and hamstrings antagonist co-activation. Additionally, the 4.44-meter gait and timed up-and-go (TUG) test were administered to assess gait performance. A frontal assessment battery was measured in this study.

Results

The 8-week HSPT regimen improved the knee extensor strength from 1.13±0.08 to 1.25±0.07 (p<0.05), the 200-ms RTD from 3.01±0.3 to 3.55±0.24 (p<0.05) and the rate of EMG rise from 166.48±13.31 to 197.94±11.51 (p<0.05), whereas the movement time and motor time were statistically decreased from 921.69±40.10 to 799.51±72.84, and 271.40±19.29 to 181.15±38.08 (p<0.05), respectively. The 4.44-m gait speed and TUG significantly decreased from 6.39±0.25 to 5.5±0.24, and 11.05±0.53 to 9.17±0.43 respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest the favorable effects of 8-week HSPT on the neuromuscular function and the gait performance in the frail elderly with MCI without increase in the executive function.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fried LP, Tangen CM, Walston J, et al. Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2001;56(3):M146–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. LaRoche DP, Roy SJ, Knight CA, Dickie JL. Elderly women have blunted response to resistance training despite reduced antagonist coactivation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008;40(9):1660–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Petersen RC, Smith GE, Waring SC, et al. Mild cognitive impairment: clinical characterization and outcome. Arch Neurol 1999;56(3):303–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yamao A, Nagata T, Shinagawa S, et al. Differentiation between amnestic-mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s disease using the Frontal Assessment Battery test. Psychogeriatrics 2011;11(4):235–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Robertson DA, Savva GM, Kenny RA. Frailty and cognitive impairment—a review of the evidence and causal mechanisms. Ageing Res Rev 2013;12(4):840–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Avila-Funes JA, Amieva H, Barberger-Gateau P, et al. Cognitive impairment improves the predictive validity of the phenotype of frailty for adverse health outcomes: the three-city study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2009;57(3):453–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Xue QL, Fried LP, Glass TA, Laffan A, Chaves PH. Life-space constriction, development of frailty, and the competing risk of mortality: the Women’s Health And Aging Study I. Am J Epidemiol 2008;167(2):240–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sayers SP. High-speed power training: a novel approach to resistance training in older men and women. A brief review and pilot study. J Strength Cond Res 2007;21(2):518–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Pereira A, Izquierdo M, Silva AJ, et al. Effects of high-speed power training on functional capacity and muscle performance in older women. Exp Gerontol 2012;47(3):250–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yoon DH, Kang D, Kim Ht, et al. Effect of elastic band-based high-speed power training on cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength in older women with mild cognitive impairment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017;17(5):765–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Morris JC. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR): current version and scoring rules. Neurology 1993;43(11):2412–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Reid KF, Martin KI, Doros G, et al. Comparative effects of light or heavy resistance power training for improving lower extremity power and physical performance in mobility-limited older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2015;70(3):374–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Wu R, Delahunt E, Ditroilo M, Lowery MM, DE Vito G. Effect of Knee Joint Angle and Contraction Intensity on Hamstrings Coactivation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2017;49(8):1668–1676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Hectromyogr Kinesiol 2000;10(5):361–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Podsiadlo D, Richardson S. The timed “Up & Go”: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 1991;39(2):142–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Dubois B, Slachevsky A, Litvan I, Pillon B. The FAB: a Frontal Assessment Battery at bedside. Neurology 2000;55(11):1621–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kim TH, Huh Y, Choe JY, et al. Korean version of frontal assessment battery: psychometric properties and normative data. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2010;29(4):363–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Bryan J, Luszcz MA. Measurement of executive function: considerations for detecting adult age differences. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2000;22(1):40–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Martins WR, Safons MP, Bottaro M, et al. Effects of short term elastic resistance training on muscle mass and strength in untrained older adults: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Geriatr 2015; 15:99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ringsberg K, Gerdhem P, Johansson J, Obrant KJ. Is there a relationship between balance, gait performance and muscular strength in 75-year-old women? Age Ageing 1999;28(3):289–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Karttunen N, Lihavainen K, Sipila S, et al. Musculoskeletal pain and use of analgesics in relation to mobility limitation among community-dwelling persons aged 75 years and older. Eur J Pain 2012;16(1):140–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gurjao AL, Gobbi LT, Carneiro NH, et al. Effect of strength training on rate of force development in older women. Res Q Exerc Sport 2012;83(2):268–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kamen G. Aging, resistance training, and motor unit discharge behavior. Can J Appl Physiol 2005;30(3):341–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ramirez-Campillo R, Castillo A, de la Fuente CI, et al. High-speed resistance training is more effective than low-speed resistance training to increase functional capacity and muscle performance in older women. Exp Gerontol 2014;58:51–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. LaRoche DP. Initial neuromuscular performance in older women influences response to explosive resistance training. Isokinet Exerc Sci 2009;17(4):197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. LaRoche DP, Knight CA, Dickie JL, Lussier M, Roy SJ. Explosive force and fractionated reaction time in elderly low- and high-active women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007;39(9):1659–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Prochniewicz E, Thomas DD, Thompson LV. Age-related decline in actomyosin function. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2005;60(4):425–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. van den Bogert AJ, Pavol MJ, Grabiner MD. Response time is more important than walking speed for the ability of older adults to avoid a fall after a trip. J Biomech 2002;35(2):199–205.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Larsen AH, Puggaard L, Hamalainen U, Aagaard P. Comparison of ground reaction forces and antagonist muscle coactivation during stair walking with ageing. J Hectromyogr Kinesiol 2008;18(4):568–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Smith AM. The coactivation of antagonist muscles. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1981;59(7):733–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper was supported by the Dongjakgu public health center, the Department of Neuropsychiatry in Boramae Hospital from Seoul official government and the Dongjak-gu center for dementia.

Funding

Funding: This study was supported by the Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, and National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (Korea Mouse Phenotyping Project NRF-2013M3A9D5072550, 2017M3A9D5A01052447). The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the preparation of the manuscript; or in the review or approval of the manuscript.

Author information

Author notes

  1. The authors contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanangno, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    D. W. Lee, D. H. Yoon & Wook Song

  2. Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Wook Song

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

    D. H. Yoon & J.-Y. Lee

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    J.-Y. Lee

  5. Department of Physical Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    S. B. Panday, J. Park & Wook Song

  6. Department of Sports & Leisure Studies, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea

    S. B. Panday

Authors
  1. D. W. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. H. Yoon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J.-Y. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. B. Panday
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wook Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wook Song.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest: On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lee, D.W., Yoon, D.H., Lee, JY. et al. Effects of High-Speed Power Training on Neuromuscular and Gait Functions in Frail Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment Despite Blunted Executive Functions: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Frailty Aging 9, 179–184 (2020). https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2020.23

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2020.23

Key words

Search

Navigation