BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a six-month home-based resistance-training program on muscle health and physical performance in healthy older subjects during the unique condition of home confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a randomized-controlled study that enrolled older participants that were allocated to either an experimental group performing the six-months exercise prescription (EXE) or a control group (CON). At the beginning (pre), and after 6 months (post), participants were assessed for muscle strength, balance, gait assessment and body composition by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Normality distribution of data was checked with the d'Agostino and Pearson test and changes between pre and post were assessed by paired Student's t-test while percentage and absolute changes between groups at post were tested by unpaired t-test. RESULTS: Nine participants were included for the final analysis: EXE n = 5 (age 66 +/- 4; BMI 27.5 +/- 3.7) and CON n = 4 (age 71 +/- 9; BMI 24.2 +/- 4.1). Significant pre-to-post changes were observed in the EXE group only in the chair-stand test (+19.8%, p = 0.048 and ES 1.0, moderate) and in total fat mass (+5.0%, p = 0.035 and ES 1.4, large) with no between-group differences. Moreover, EXE had significantly higher absolute thigh CSA values than CON at post (14,138 +/- 2,977 versus 9,039 +/- 1,015, p = 0.0178, ES 1.7). No other within- and between-group differences were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The home-based resistance-training program during the lockdown period, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, determined only within-group improvement in lower limb muscle strength but not in muscle mass and composition in older subjects. Home confinement may partially explain the increase in total body fat due to a reduced daily PA regime and altered diet pattern.

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