Effect of strength and power training on physical function in community-dwelling older adults.
BACKGROUND
The performance of daily tasks, such as stair climbing or lifting an object, requires both muscle strength and power. Age-associated reductions in strength and power can affect an older adult's ability to complete daily tasks such as stair climbing and lifting a child.


METHODS
The purposes of this study were to determine whether power training was more efficacious than strength training for improving whole-body physical function in older adults and to examine the relationship between changes in anaerobic power and muscle strength and changes in physical function. Thirty-nine men and women (mean age +/- SD = 72.5 +/- 6.3 years) with below-average leg extensor power were randomly assigned to control (C, n = 15), strength-training (ST, n = 13) or power-training (PT, n = 11) groups. The ST and PT groups met 3 days per week for 16 weeks; the C group maintained usual activity and attended three lectures during the course of the study. Primary outcome measures included the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance test, maximal strength, and anaerobic power.


RESULTS
After baseline was controlled for, the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance test total score was significantly greater for the PT group than for the ST (p =.033) and C (p =.016) groups. Maximal strength was significantly greater for the ST group than for the C group (p =.015) after the intervention. There was no significant difference between groups for peak anaerobic power.


CONCLUSIONS
Power training was more effective than strength training for improving physical function in community-dwelling older adults.
Miszko
Tanya A
TA
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia 30033, USA. t_miszko@hotmail.com
Cress
M Elaine
ME
Slade
Jill M
JM
Covey
Carlton J
CJ
Agrawal
Subodh K
SK
Doerr
Christopher E
CE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*