RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Strength training and detraining effects on muscular strength, anaerobic power, and mobility of inactive older men are intensity dependent
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 776
OP 780
DO 10.1136/bjsm.2005.019117
VO 39
IS 10
A1 I G Fatouros
A1 A Kambas
A1 I Katrabasas
A1 K Nikolaidis
A1 A Chatzinikolaou
A1 D Leontsini
A1 K Taxildaris
YR 2005
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/39/10/776.abstract
AB Background: Although strength training (ST) enhances physical function in the elderly, little is known about the effect of training intensity on training and detraining adaptations in musculoskeletal fitness. Objective: To determine the effect of exercise intensity on strength, anaerobic power, and mobility of older men subjected to a 24 week ST protocol followed by prolonged detraining. Methods: Fifty two healthy but inactive older men (mean (SD) age 71.2 (4.1) years) were assigned to a control (n  =  14), low intensity training (LIST; n  =  18; 55% 1RM), or high intensity training (HIST; n  =  20; 82% 1RM) group. They carried out a 24 week, whole body (10 exercises, two to three sets/exercise) ST programme followed by a 48 week detraining period. Upper and lower body strength, anaerobic power (Wingate testing), and mobility (timed up and go, walking, climbing stairs) were measured at baseline and immediately after training and during detraining. Results: Although low intensity training improved (p<0.05) strength (42–66%), anaerobic power (10%), and mobility (5–7%), high intensity training elicited greater (p<0.05) gains (63–91% in strength, 17–25% in anaerobic power, 9–14% in mobility). All training induced gains in the LIST group had been abolished after four to eight months of detraining, whereas in the HIST group strength and mobility gains were maintained throughout detraining. However, anaerobic power had returned to baseline levels after four months of detraining in both groups. Conclusions: Higher intensity training protocols induce greater gains in strength, anaerobic power, and whole body physical function of older men. Moreover, higher intensity training may maintain the gains for more prolonged periods after training ceases.