Comparison of once-weekly and twice-weekly strength training in older adults.
BACKGROUND
Strength training has been shown to benefit the health and function of older adults.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether one set of exercises performed once a week was as effective in increasing muscle strength as training twice a week.


METHODS
18 subjects (7 women and 11 men) aged 65-79 years were randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups performed one set of exercises to muscular fatigue; group 1 trained 1 day/week and group 2 trained 2 days/week on three lower and three upper body exercises for 9 weeks. The data were analysed using a mixed model 2 x 2 analysis of variance.


RESULTS
A significant main effect of time (p<0.001), but not group, on one-repetition maximum scores was observed. No significant interaction was observed between time and group and therefore no difference in strength changes between training once a week versus twice a week after 9 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
One set of exercises performed once weekly to muscle fatigue improved strength as well as twice a week in the older adult. Our results provide information that will assist in designing strength-training programmes that are more time and cost efficient in producing health and fitness benefits for older adults.
DiFrancisco-Donoghue
J
J
Academic Health Care Center of The New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USA.
Werner
W
W
Douris
P C
PC
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors