INTRODUCTION: Aging leads to decline in multiple organ systems associated to hormone alterations and loss of muscle mass and strength. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of land and water resistance training on muscle strength, basal serum levels of GH, IGF-1, and IGFBP3 in elderly women. METHODS: Subjects were distributed in three groups: land resistance training (LRT; n = 10; age 66.10 +/- 2.77 years), water resistance training (WRT; n = 10; age 67.10 +/- 3.54 years) and control (CG; n = 10; age 68.80 +/- 5.41 years). Muscle strength was assessed with the 1-RM test in bench press (BP) and leg press (LP) exercises. Serum levels of GH, IGF-1, and IGFBP3 were analyzed by chemiluminescence. RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA showed elevated muscle strength in the BP only in LRT (delta% 60.2%; p = 0.0001) when compared to the CG (delta% 46.73%, p = 0.0001) and WRT (delta% 32.49%, p = 0.004). LRT and WRT increased muscle strength in LP (delta% LRT 57.14%; p = 0.004; delta% WRT 42.3%; p = 0.033). There was an increase in LRT and WRT in the LP when compared to CG (delta% 45.59%, p = 0.019; delta% 43.97%, p = 0.026, respectively). IGF-1 was elevated only in LRT (delta% 49.72%, p = 0.004) from pre- to post-test and when compared to WRT (delta% 56.76%, p = 0.002) and CG (delta% 74.63%, p = 0.0001). IGFBP3 levels showed that only WRT increased (delta% 26.79%, p = 0.044) from pre- to post-test. The IGF-1/IGFBP3 ratio demonstrated that LRT reached intragroup elevation (delta% 52.66%, p = 0.002) and when compared to WRT (delta% 94.11%, p = 0.0001) and CG (delta% 73.45%, p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in GH. CONCLUSION: Land resistance training may provide better anabolic effects in elderly women.

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