No abstract

Preliminary findings suggest that combined aerobic and low- or moderate-intensity resistance training increases muscle strength and improves gait ability, regardless of the exercise order. Also, greater improvement in dynamic balance capacity, a risk factor associated with falling, is observed in moderate-intensity combined training.

When combined aerobic and resistance training into the same session is performed, the exercise order may lead to different effects with respect to factors such as muscle strength, hormone responses, energy metabolism, and vascular function. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise order of combined aerobic and resistance training into the same session on body composition, muscle strength and arterial stiffness in the elderly. Thirty-one elderly subjects (70.5 ± 3.5 years) were randomly assigned to 3 groups; AR: aerobic before resistance training, RA: resistance before aerobic training and CON: no training. Subjects trained 2 times per week for 10 weeks. Resistance training consisted of 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions for 5 different exercises, 70%-80% of one repetition maximum (1RM). Aerobic exercise consisted of cycling at 60% of heart rate reserve (HRR). Significant interaction effects were observed in body fat percentage (P < 0.01) and 1RM (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were observed between AR and RA. In contrast, pulse wave velocity (PWV) significantly reduced in the RA (8.8 ± 2.1 m/s to 7.6 ± 1.9 m/s, P < 0.05), while PWV increased in the AR (7.9 ± 2.8 m/s to 10.0 ± 2.6 m/s, P < 0.01), and there was significant difference between AR and RA (P < 0.05). In conclusion, no effects of the exercise order were observed in body composition and muscle strength. However, aerobic exercise after resistance training reduced arterial stiffness and difference of exercise order was observed.

In subjects with frailty syndrome, aging-related loss of muscle (sarcopenia) might progress to the extent that an older person loses his or her ability to live independently. Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors (abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) which markedly increases the risk of arteriosclerotic vascular disease. Due to the ongoing obesity pandemic and growing elderly population, frailty and metabolic syndromes are major emerging concerns in the healthcare system. Recent studies show that resistance training has remarkable beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal system including the prevention and treatment of these syndromes. Resistance training is probably the most effective measure to prevent and treat sarcopenia. With regard to the effect of resistance training on the muscular strength of elderly persons, the rate of improvement increases with intensity. Resistance training also has a favorable effect on metabolic syndrome since it decreases fat mass including abdominal fat, enhances insulin sensitivity, improves glucose tolerance, and reduces blood pressure values. Optimal nutrition enhances the anabolic effect of resistance training. Resistance training should be a central component of public health promotion programs along with aerobic exercise.

When combined aerobic and resistance training into the same session is performed, the exercise order may lead to different effects with respect to factors such as muscle strength, hormone responses, energy metabolism, and vascular function. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise order of combined aerobic and resistance training into the same session on body composition, muscle strength and arterial stiffness in the elderly. Thirty-one elderly subjects (70.5 ± 3.5 years) were randomly assigned to 3 groups; AR: aerobic before resistance training, RA: resistance before aerobic training and CON: no training. Subjects trained 2 times per week for 10 weeks. Resistance training consisted of 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions for 5 different exercises, 70%-80% of one repetition maximum (1RM). Aerobic exercise consisted of cycling at 60% of heart rate reserve (HRR). Significant interaction effects were observed in body fat percentage (P < 0.01) and 1RM (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were observed between AR and RA. In contrast, pulse wave velocity (PWV) significantly reduced in the RA (8.8 ± 2.1 m/s to 7.6 ± 1.9 m/s, P < 0.05), while PWV increased in the AR (7.9 ± 2.8 m/s to 10.0 ± 2.6 m/s, P < 0.01), and there was significant difference between AR and RA (P < 0.05). In conclusion, no effects of the exercise order were observed in body composition and muscle strength. However, aerobic exercise after resistance training reduced arterial stiffness and difference of exercise order was observed.