Strength and Endurance Training Prescription in Healthy and Frail Elderly

Overview

Journal Aging Dis

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2014 Jun 6

PMID 24900941

Citations 84

Authors

Eduardo Lusa Cadore

Ronei Silveira Pinto

Martim Bottaro

Mikel Izquierdo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aging is associated with declines in the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems, resulting in an impaired capacity to perform daily activities. Frailty is an age-associated biological syndrome characterized by decreases in the biological functional reserve and resistance to stressors due to changes in several physiological systems, which puts older individuals at special risk of disability. To counteract the neuromuscular and cardiovascular declines associated with aging, as well as to prevent and treat the frailty syndrome, the strength and endurance training seems to be an effective strategy to improve muscle hypertrophy, strength and power output, as well as endurance performance. The first purpose of this review was discuss the neuromuscular adaptations to strength training, as well as the cardiovascular adaptations to endurance training in healthy and frail elderly subjects. In addition, the second purpose of this study was investigate the concurrent training adaptations in the elderly. Based on the results found, the combination of strength and endurance training (i.e., concurrent training) performed at moderate volume and moderate to high intensity in elderly populations is the most effective way to improve both neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory functions. Moreover, exercise interventions that include muscle power training should be prescribed to frail elderly in order to improve the overall physical status of this population and prevent disability.

Citing Articles

Remote assessment of physical fitness via videoconferencing: a systematic review.

Klein T, Worth A, Niessner C, Hanssen-Doose A BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025; 17(1):11.

PMID: 39849621 PMC: 11756083. DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-01050-w.

Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR).

Izquierdo M, De Souto Barreto P, Arai H, Bischoff-Ferrari H, Cadore E, Cesari M J Nutr Health Aging. 2025; 29(1):100401.

PMID: 39743381 PMC: 11812118. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100401.

Effects of a 4-Week Detraining Period After 12 Weeks of Combined Training Using Different Weekly Frequencies on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Older Adults.

Domingues L, Schneider V, de Abreu R, Carpes L, Ferrari R Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(11).

PMID: 39595700 PMC: 11594184. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21111433.

Muscle Quality and Physical Function in Men With and Without HIV.

Sun J, Ditzenberger G, Brown T, Langan S, Hsu H, Ng D J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2024; 79(11).

PMID: 39288937 PMC: 11497161. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glae229.

Sex Differences in the Impact of Dynapenic Abdominal Obesity on Mild Cognitive Impairment among Korean Elderly in the Community.

Kim J, Paik Y Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(6).

PMID: 38540626 PMC: 10969928. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12060662.

References

Cadore E, Pinto R, Lhullier F, Correa C, Alberton C, Pinto S . Physiological effects of concurrent training in elderly men. Int J Sports Med. 2010; 31(10):689-97. DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1261895. View

Correa C, Laroche D, Cadore E, Reischak-Oliveira A, Bottaro M, Kruel L . 3 Different types of strength training in older women. Int J Sports Med. 2012; 33(12):962-9. DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1312648. View

Pereira A, Izquierdo M, Silva A, Costa A, Bastos E, Gonzalez-Badillo J . Effects of high-speed power training on functional capacity and muscle performance in older women. Exp Gerontol. 2012; 47(3):250-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2011.12.010. View

Izquierdo M, Hakkinen K, Anton A, Garrues M, Ibanez J, Ruesta M . Maximal strength and power, endurance performance, and serum hormones in middle-aged and elderly men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001; 33(9):1577-87. DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200109000-00022. View

Barnett A, Smith B, Lord S, Williams M, Baumand A . Community-based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at-risk older people: a randomised controlled trial. Age Ageing. 2003; 32(4):407-14. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/32.4.407. View

McCarthy J, Pozniak M, Agre J . Neuromuscular adaptations to concurrent strength and endurance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002; 34(3):511-9. DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200203000-00019. View

Hakkinen K, Kraemer W, Newton R, Alen M . Changes in electromyographic activity, muscle fibre and force production characteristics during heavy resistance/power strength training in middle-aged and older men and women. Acta Physiol Scand. 2001; 171(1):51-62. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-201X.2001.00781.x. View

Cadore E, Rodriguez-Manas L, Sinclair A, Izquierdo M . Effects of different exercise interventions on risk of falls, gait ability, and balance in physically frail older adults: a systematic review. Rejuvenation Res. 2013; 16(2):105-14. PMC: 3634155. DOI: 10.1089/rej.2012.1397. View

Cadore E, Casas-Herrero A, Zambom-Ferraresi F, Idoate F, Millor N, Gomez M . Multicomponent exercises including muscle power training enhance muscle mass, power output, and functional outcomes in institutionalized frail nonagenarians. Age (Dordr). 2013; 36(2):773-85. PMC: 4039263. DOI: 10.1007/s11357-013-9586-z. View

10.

Cadore E, Izquierdo M, dos Santos M, Martins J, Rodrigues Lhullier F, Pinto R . Hormonal responses to concurrent strength and endurance training with different exercise orders. J Strength Cond Res. 2012; 26(12):3281-8. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318248ab26. View

11.

Holviala J, Hakkinen A, Karavirta L, Nyman K, Izquierdo M, Gorostiaga E . Effects of combined strength and endurance training on treadmill load carrying walking performance in aging men. J Strength Cond Res. 2010; 24(6):1584-95. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181dba178. View

12.

Izquierdo M, Ibanez J, Gorostiaga E, Garrues M, Zuniga A, Anton A . Maximal strength and power characteristics in isometric and dynamic actions of the upper and lower extremities in middle-aged and older men. Acta Physiol Scand. 1999; 167(1):57-68. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-201x.1999.00590.x. View

13.

Karavirta L, Hakkinen A, Sillanpaa E, Garcia-Lopez D, Kauhanen A, Haapasaari A . Effects of combined endurance and strength training on muscle strength, power and hypertrophy in 40-67-year-old men. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009; 21(3):402-11. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01059.x. View

14.

Sullivan D, Roberson P, Smith E, Price J, Bopp M . Effects of muscle strength training and megestrol acetate on strength, muscle mass, and function in frail older people. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007; 55(1):20-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2006.01010.x. View

15.

Meredith C, Frontera W, Fisher E, Hughes V, Herland J, Edwards J . Peripheral effects of endurance training in young and old subjects. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1989; 66(6):2844-9. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1989.66.6.2844. View

16.

Aagaard P, Simonsen E, Andersen J, Magnusson P, Dyhre-Poulsen P . Neural adaptation to resistance training: changes in evoked V-wave and H-reflex responses. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2002; 92(6):2309-18. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01185.2001. View

17.

Kraemer W, Hakkinen K, Newton R, Nindl B, Volek J, McCormick M . Effects of heavy-resistance training on hormonal response patterns in younger vs. older men. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1999; 87(3):982-92. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.87.3.982. View

18.

Brentano M, Cadore E, da Silva E, Ambrosini A, Coertjens M, Petkowicz R . Physiological adaptations to strength and circuit training in postmenopausal women with bone loss. J Strength Cond Res. 2008; 22(6):1816-25. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31817ae3f1. View

19.

Pinto R, Correa C, Radaelli R, Cadore E, Brown L, Bottaro M . Short-term strength training improves muscle quality and functional capacity of elderly women. Age (Dordr). 2013; 36(1):365-72. PMC: 3889909. DOI: 10.1007/s11357-013-9567-2. View

20.

Sillanpaa E, Hakkinen A, Nyman K, Mattila M, Cheng S, Karavirta L . Body composition and fitness during strength and/or endurance training in older men. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008; 40(5):950-8. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e318165c854. View