Potential Benefits of a Minimal Dose Eccentric Resistance Training Paradigm to Combat Sarcopenia and Age-Related Muscle and Physical Function Deficits in Older Adults

Abstract

The ability of older adults to perform activities of daily living is often limited by the ability to generate high mechanical outputs. Therefore, assessing and developing maximal neuromuscular capacity is essential for determining age-related risk for functional decline as well as the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Interventions designed to enhance neuromuscular capacities underpinning maximal mechanical outputs could positively impact functional performance in daily life. Unfortunately, < 10% of older adults meet the current resistance training guidelines. It has recently been proposed that a more “minimal dose” RT model may help engage a greater proportion of older adults, so that they may realize the benefits of RT. Eccentric exercise offers some promising qualities for such an approach due to its efficiency in overloading contractions that can induce substantial neuromuscular adaptations. When used in a minimal dose RT paradigm, eccentric-based RT may be a particularly promising approach for older adults that can efficiently improve muscle mass, strength, and functional performance. One approach that may lead to improved neuromuscular function capacities and overall health is through heightened exercise tolerance which would favor greater exercise participation in older adult populations. Therefore, our perspective article will discuss the implications of using a minimal dose, submaximal (i.e., low intensity) multi-joint eccentric resistance training paradigm as a potentially effective, and yet currently underutilized, means to efficiently improve neuromuscular capacities and function for older adults.

Resistance Exercise Minimal Dose Strategies for Increasing Muscle Strength in the General Population: an Overview

“…Muscle action or contraction type is one variable of resistance exercise programming that has received little attention in position papers on resistance exercise guidelines (Table 1 ) and in previous discussions on minimal dose resistance exercise strategies [ 47 ]. A typical repetition of a resistance exercise consists of both an eccentric (i.e., active muscle lengthening) and concentric (i.e., active muscle shortening) muscle action (i.e., a coupled eccentric–concentric repetition).…”

“…This suggests a unique role for prescriptions of eccentric resistance exercise for older adults and those with cardiovascular or other medical conditions [ 116 , 117 ], who might benefit from minimal dose training strategies. Nevertheless, we are aware of only one paper that has discussed eccentrics as a potential minimal dose approach [ 47 ].…”

Benefits of Eccentric Training with Emphasis on Demands of Daily Living Activities and Feasibility in Older Adults: A Literature Review

“…In recent years, resistance or strength training, especially eccentric strength training, has become one of the most effective methods to counteract age-related changes of muscle mass and other structures [ 44 ]. Numerous studies have discussed the several benefits and unique physiological advantages of eccentric training compared to standard resistance training.…”

“…Numerous studies have discussed the several benefits and unique physiological advantages of eccentric training compared to standard resistance training. There are probable suggestions that eccentric training is metabolically efficient (lower physiological demand) at a given workload with high work output [ 19 , 44 , 45 ]. Furthermore, some studies reported lower or minimal cardiorespiratory load evoked by eccentric exercise, which could be an advantage when applied for older individuals.…”

“…The authors suggested that using these types of machines has favorable effect, and that they are well suited for the older population. Some studies investigated the effect of eccentric training using flywheel devices, which use inertia to overload the eccentric portion of the movement [ 44 ] in the older population [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Sañudo et al [ 51 ] found significant improvements after flywheel training in physical functioning such as chair raise and walking speed.…”