OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a resistance-training program on walking endurance in a healthy, community-dwelling elderly population. DESIGN: 12-week randomized, controlled trial comparing a resistance-training group with a nonexercising control group. SETTING: Hospital-affiliated outpatient exercise facility. PATIENTS: 24 healthy men and women who were 65 years of age or older (mean age +/- SD 70.4 +/- 4 years; range 65 to 79 years). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome variable was exhaustive submaximal walking time measured at an intensity of 80% of baseline peak aerobic capacity. RESULTS: Participants in the resistance-training program increased submaximal walking endurance by 9 minutes (from 25 +/- 4 minutes to 34 +/- 9 minutes; p = 0.001), a 38% increase, whereas no change was seen in controls (20 +/- 5 minutes to 19 +/- 10 minutes; p > 0.2; p = 0.005 between groups). The relation between change in leg strength and change in walking endurance was significant (r = 0.48; p = 0.02). Neither group showed a change in peak aerobic capacity or in whole-body composition, although fat-free mass of the leg increased in the exercise group. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training for 3 months improves both leg strength and walking endurance in healthy, community-dwelling elderly persons. This finding is relevant to older persons at risk for disability, because walking endurance and leg strength are important components of physical functioning.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher