Can Aerobic Training Improve Muscle Strength and Power in Older Men?

Abstract

This study examined the effect of aerobic training on leg strength, power, and muscle mass in previously sedentary, healthy older men (70–80 yr). Training consisted of 30–45 min of cycle ergometry at 50–70% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), 3 times weekly for 16 wk, then 4 wk detraining, or assignment to a nontraining control group (n= 12 both groups). Training increased leg strength, leg power, upper leg muscle mass, and VO2maxabove pretraining values (21%, 12%, 4%, and 15%, respectively;p< .05). However, all gains were lost after detraining, except for some gain in VO2max. This suggests that cycle ergometry is sufficient stimulus to improve neuromuscular function in older men, but gains are quickly lost with detraining. For the older population cycle ergometry provides the means to not only increase aerobic fitness but also increase leg strength and power and upper leg muscle mass. However, during periods of inactivity neuromuscular gains are quickly lost.

Are resistance and aerobic exercise training equally effective at improving knee muscle strength and balance in older women?

“…Possibly a higher training frequency (>3 days per week) may be required to achieve a large number of muscle contractions that places a high-volume, low-load on skeletal muscle compared to RE training (Harber et al, 2009; Konopka et al, 2010). However, others have found that AE significantly increased muscle strength outcomes with a training frequency similar to ours (3 times a week) (Lovell, Cuneo, & Gass, 2010; Misic, Valentine, Rosengren, Woods, & Evans, 2009). Our findings may be related to some distinct mechanisms involved in aerobic activities performed overground, treadmill or cycle ergometers (Prosser, Stanley, Norman, Park, & Damiano, 2011).…”

Making Olympic lizards: the effects of specialised exercise training on performance

“…The role of the other correspondingly different variables is less clear. The hypertrophic effects of aerobic training have been equivocal and somewhat controversial (Harber et al, 2012;Lundberg et al, 2013), but several studies have shown increased muscle mass and increased slow oxidative fibre size after aerobic exercise training in mammals, including humans (Schwartz et al, 1991;Schluter and Fitts, 1994;Trappe et al, 2006;Harber and Trappe, 2008;Harber et al, 2009Harber et al, , 2012Konopka et al, 2010;Lovell et al, 2010). However, although FCSA certainly contributes to force production, it is less clear how a larger FCSA might increase endurance.…”

“Slow walking with turns” increases quadriceps and erector spinae muscle activity

“…Importantly, to facilitate the development of a training habit, it is better that exercisers do not feel fatigue. Muscle strength significantly decreases when training is stopped; if training is resumed, its muscle strengthening effects are then less than they were previously24 ) . Therefore, training should consist of exercises that are easy to continue.…”

“…The few studies that have shown positive effects of exercise on the mass and strength of the thigh muscles used brisk walking, jogging at 85% HR reserve21 ) , or interval training at 70% to 85% VO 2 peak6, 22 ) as exercises. Cycling at 70% VO 2 max or 80% HR reserve has been shown to increase quadriceps muscle strength and power and thigh muscle volume23, 24 ) . Aerobic exercise can increase muscle strength and mass depending on the intensity, frequency, and duration of the exercise.…”