title: Changes of Body Composition, Muscular Strength and Physical Performance Due to Resistance Training in Older Persons with Sarcopenic Obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present, it is unclear whether older, obese persons with or without sarcopenia respond differently to training. Furthermore, there are no differentiated recommendations for resistance training for this special target group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives are to investigate the changes in the physical parameters of older, obese men caused by training and to reappraise the modalities of resistance training for older persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-test-post-test design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 33 physically inactive and obese older men (≥ 65 years, BMI ≥30 kg/m2), with-out severe diseases. Subjects were divided into two groups: NSAR (no or presarcopenia, n= 15) or SAR (sarcopenia, n= 18).
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention consisted of progressive resistance training, twice a week for 16 weeks with finally 80-85% of maximum strength and three sets with 8-12 repetitions. The training contained six exercises for the major muscle groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sarcopenia was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), hand-grip strength, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and gait speed over a 6-meter walkway. Furthermore, the maximum dynamic strength (1 RM) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the NSAR group had significantly better values in SMI, SPPB score, hand-grip strength, and 1 RM. After training, the results in both groups displayed an increase in 1 RM at the lower limbs (NSAR 18%, SAR 38%) and the upper limbs (NSAR 12%, SAR 14%). Also, the SPPB score (NSAR 11%, SAR 15%) and the 6-m-gait speed (NSAR 5%, SAR 10%) increased. The SAR group was able to increase their right hand-grip strength by 12%, whereas the NSAR group maintained their initial high strength values. SMI did not change in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both groups show improvements after resistance training with slightly more benefits for men with sarcopenia. Results of this study can be used to define specific training regimens for N(SAR) subjects.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Klara Brixius, German Sport University Cologne, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933 Cologne, Germany, Email: brixius@dshs-koeln.de, Phone: +49 221 4982 5220.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stoever
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eichberg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brixius