title: Aerobic training alone or combined with strength training affects fitness in elderly: Randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate if combined strength and aerobic training can enhance aerobic capacity in the elderly to a similar extent as aerobic training alone when training duration is matched.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elderly men and women (age 63.2 ± 4.7) were randomized into two intervention groups: an aerobic group (AG, n = 17) and a combined group (CG, n = 16). Subjects trained 40 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks. Both groups trained 20 minutes at 65% of heart rate reserve on ergometer cycles followed by another 20 minutes on the ergometer cycles for AG and 20-minute strength training for the lower body for CG. The primary outcome was VO2max. Secondary outcomes were maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in isometric knee extension, 1 repetition maximum in three leg exercises, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure and score on the Health Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups improved VO2max (p < .01) and MVC (p < .001). VO2max increased 17% confidence interval (CI) [7.4-26] in CG and 26% CI [14.1-38.2] in AG, with no significant difference between groups. MVC increased 22% CI [16.3-27.7] in CG and 9% CI [4.6-13.5] in AG with CG improving MVC more than AG (p < .01). CG's score on the general health dimension on the SF-36 health survey improved more than AG's score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly can substitute a part of their aerobic training with strength training and still improve VO2max to a clinically significant degree when strength training is performed with large muscle groups subsequently to the aerobic training. Combined training additionally improves strength and self-assessed general health more than aerobic training alone.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burich
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.|b Fysium ApS , 66 Sct. Jørgens Park, Næstved , Denmark.
authors.forename: Sanel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teljigović
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.|c Dalla Lana School of Public Health , University of Toronto , 155 College Street, 6th Floor, Toronto , Canada.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sjøgaard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Endurance; ageing; cardiovascular/cardiorespiratory and health; resistance