Strength Training in Elderly: An Useful Tool Against Sarcopenia

Overview

Journal Front Sports Act Living

Date 2022 Aug 4

PMID 35924210

Authors

Roberto Cannataro

Erika Cione

Diego A Bonilla

Giuseppe Cerullo

Fabrizio Angelini

Giuseppe DAntona

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The loss of muscle mass and strength in elderly population (especially after the age of 65-70) represents a public health problem. Due to the high prevalence of frailty in older adults, cardiovascular or low-intensity exercise is implemented as first choice option. Although beneficial these training schemes are not as effective as strength-based resistance training for increasing muscle strength and hypertrophy. In fact, when performed progressively and under professional supervision, strength-based training has been proposed as an important and valid methodology to reduce sarcopenia-related problems. In this mini-review, we not only summarize the benefits of weight resistance training but also highlight practical recommendations and other non-conventional methods (e.g., suspension training) as part of an integral anti-sarcopenia strategy. Future directions including cluster set configurations and high-speed resistance training are also outlined.

Citing Articles

Shatavari supplementation during eight weeks of resistance training increases training load, enhances skeletal muscle contractility and alters the skeletal muscle proteome in older women.

Greed E, Pritchard J, Struszczak L, Bozbas E, Ek G, Acheson J Front Nutr. 2025; 11():1498674.

PMID: 39834460 PMC: 11743497. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1498674.

The power of creatine plus resistance training for healthy aging: enhancing physical vitality and cognitive function.

Bonilla D, Stout J, Candow D, Daniel Jimenez-Garcia J, Gomez-Miranda L, Ortiz-Ortiz M Front Physiol. 2024; 15:1496544.

PMID: 39691097 PMC: 11649744. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1496544.

Vascular Impairment, Muscle Atrophy, and Cognitive Decline: Critical Age-Related Conditions.

de Lima E, Tanaka M, Lamas C, Quesada K, Detregiachi C, Cressoni Araujo A Biomedicines. 2024; 12(9).

PMID: 39335609 PMC: 11428869. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12092096.

Editorial: New insights and advances in body recomposition.

Bonilla D, Petro J, Cannataro R, Kreider R, Stout J Front Nutr. 2024; 11:1467406.

PMID: 39290563 PMC: 11405322. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1467406.

Unacylated Ghrelin Protects Against Age-Related Loss of Muscle Mass and Contractile Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle.

Kim H, Ranjit R, Claflin D, Georgescu C, Wren J, Brooks S Aging Cell. 2024; 23(12):e14323.

PMID: 39223708 PMC: 11634730. DOI: 10.1111/acel.14323.

References

Campa F, Schoenfeld B, Marini E, Stagi S, Mauro M, Toselli S . Effects of a 12-Week Suspension versus Traditional Resistance Training Program on Body Composition, Bioimpedance Vector Patterns, and Handgrip Strength in Older Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021; 13(7). PMC: 8308438. DOI: 10.3390/nu13072267. View

Neves T, Ferriolli E, Lopes M, Souza M, Fett C, Fett W . Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia and dynapenia in elderly people. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2020; 3(4):194-202. PMC: 7155355. DOI: 10.22540/JFSF-03-194. View

Cruz-Jentoft A, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyere O, Cederholm T . Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2018; 48(1):16-31. PMC: 6322506. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afy169. View

Cannataro R, Carbone L, Petro J, Cione E, Vargas S, Angulo H . Sarcopenia: Etiology, Nutritional Approaches, and miRNAs. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(18). PMC: 8466275. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189724. View

Singh A, Gasman B . Disentangling the genetics of sarcopenia: prioritization of NUDT3 and KLF5 as genes for lean mass & HLA-DQB1-AS1 for hand grip strength with the associated enhancing SNPs & a scoring system. BMC Med Genet. 2020; 21(1):40. PMC: 7041234. DOI: 10.1186/s12881-020-0977-6. View

Daniel Jimenez-Garcia J, Martinez-Amat A, De la Torre-Cruz M, Fabrega-Cuadros R, Cruz-Diaz D, Aibar-Almazan A . Suspension Training HIIT Improves Gait Speed, Strength and Quality of Life in Older Adults. Int J Sports Med. 2019; 40(2):116-124. DOI: 10.1055/a-0787-1548. View

Samadpour Masouleh S, Bagheri R, Ashtary-Larky D, Cheraghloo N, Wong A, Yousefi Bilesvar O . The Effects of TRX Suspension Training Combined with Taurine Supplementation on Body Composition, Glycemic and Lipid Markers in Women with Type 2 Diabetes. Nutrients. 2021; 13(11). PMC: 8621658. DOI: 10.3390/nu13113958. View

Broeder C, Burrhus K, SVANEVIK L, Wilmore J . The effects of either high-intensity resistance or endurance training on resting metabolic rate. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992; 55(4):802-10. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/55.4.802. View

Cugliari G, Boccia G . Core Muscle Activation in Suspension Training Exercises. J Hum Kinet. 2017; 56:61-71. PMC: 5384053. DOI: 10.1515/hukin-2017-0023. View

10.

Byrne J, Bishop N, Caines A, Crane K, Feaver A, Pearcey G . Effect of using a suspension training system on muscle activation during the performance of a front plank exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2014; 28(11):3049-55. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000510. View

11.

Soligon S, da Silva D, Bergamasco J, Angleri V, Medalha Junior R, Dias N . Suspension training vs. traditional resistance training: effects on muscle mass, strength and functional performance in older adults. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2020; 120(10):2223-2232. DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04446-x. View

12.

Tufano J, Conlon J, Nimphius S, Brown L, Banyard H, Williamson B . Cluster Sets: Permitting Greater Mechanical Stress Without Decreasing Relative Velocity. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016; 12(4):463-469. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2015-0738. View

13.

Impellizzeri F, Marcora S, Coutts A . Internal and External Training Load: 15 Years On. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2019; 14(2):270-273. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0935. View

14.

Guidi J, Lucente M, Sonino N, Fava G . Allostatic Load and Its Impact on Health: A Systematic Review. Psychother Psychosom. 2020; 90(1):11-27. DOI: 10.1159/000510696. View

15.

Ribeiro A, Nunes J, Schoenfeld B . Selection of Resistance Exercises for Older Individuals: The Forgotten Variable. Sports Med. 2020; 50(6):1051-1057. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-020-01260-5. View

16.

Jabbour G, Majed L . Ratings of Perceived Exertion Misclassify Intensities for Sedentary Older Adults During Graded Cycling Test: Effect of Supramaximal High-Intensity Interval Training. Front Physiol. 2018; 9:1505. PMC: 6209962. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01505. View

17.

Malorgio A, Malorgio M, Benedetti M, Casarosa S, Cannataro R . High intensity resistance training as intervention method to knee osteoarthritis. Sports Med Health Sci. 2022; 3(1):46-48. PMC: 9219264. DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2021.02.005. View

18.

Sun K, Cheung K, Au S, Yeung S, Yeung E . Overexpression of Mechano-Growth Factor Modulates Inflammatory Cytokine Expression and Macrophage Resolution in Skeletal Muscle Injury. Front Physiol. 2018; 9:999. PMC: 6094977. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00999. View

19.

Supriya R, Singh K, Gao Y, Li F, Dutheil F, Baker J . A Multifactorial Approach for Sarcopenia Assessment: A Literature Review. Biology (Basel). 2021; 10(12). PMC: 8698408. DOI: 10.3390/biology10121354. View

20.

Falk Neto J, Tibana R, DE Sousa N, Prestes J, Voltarelli F, Kennedy M . Session Rating of Perceived Exertion Is a Superior Method to Monitor Internal Training Loads of Functional Fitness Training Sessions Performed at Different Intensities When Compared to Training Impulse. Front Physiol. 2020; 11:919. PMC: 7435063. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00919. View