AGING & MUSCULAR FUNCTION: A SELECTED REVIEW OF LITERATURE WITH EMPHASIS ON CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE EXERCISE

Abstract

This narrative review evaluates strength or resistance training on cardiorespiratory endurance, blood pressure, contractile function, contractile protein synthesis rate, bone turnover, gait and balance, and neuromuscular adaptations in elderly populations. Seventy-eight studies spanning from 1999 through 2020 were reviewed. Database sources including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar were searched in accordance with the purpose of the study. A majority of the studies reported that resistance training reduces blood pressure and increases contractile functions, contractile protein synthesis rate, bone turnover, gait and balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and neuromuscular adaptations in the elderly. Furthermore, combined training (CT), also known as concurrent training (strength plus endurance training) may also be as effective as traditional endurance training or traditional strength/resistance training alone for improving cardiorespiratory endurance and functional performance. According to the evaluation of studies included in this review, we concluded that training modalities that involve low-load, high velocity strength training combined with endurance training might be the best training strategy in improving cardiovascular fitness, functional capacity and musculoskeletal health in the elderly populations. Elderly people should be encouraged to participate in a concurrent training or a combination of strength and endurance training to delay, or even reverse the negative effects of aging.
 
 <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0875/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>