Older people become weak during hospitalisation and muscle weakness increases the risk of disability in older people. Healthy older people can become stronger when they participate in an appropriate resistance training program. However, no trials have investigated moderate to high-intensity progressive resistance training (PRT) in hospitalised older people. Phase one and two trials were conducted to assess the safety and feasibility of PRT in this population. Phase one investigated the safety and tolerability of PRT in older people recruited from a geriatric rehabilitation unit. Five participants completed daily (Monday to Friday) quadriceps strengthening performed at 50 to 80% of their 1 repetition maximum (1RM) for the duration of their hospital stay. Compliance with the exercise programme was high (median 90% of sessions completed, range 75 to 100%) and visual analogue scale pain scores were low (median 1.2/10, range 0 to 3.3). All participants improved in strength (median improvement 42%, range 36 to 100%). Phase two investigated whether strength improvements were feasible in this population. Participants were randomised to receive either quadriceps PRT plus regular physiotherapy, or regular physiotherapy alone. Twenty participants completed the trial. The treatment group had larger strength gains than the control group, and a trend towards improved physical performance. PRT is a promising rehabilitation intervention for older people. Investigations are underway to confirm its effectiveness in frail, recently hospitalised older people.

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