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. 2013:8:443-8.
doi: 10.2147/CIA.S42136. Epub 2013 Apr 23.

Can progressive resistance training twice a week improve mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life in very elderly nursing-home residents with impaired mobility? A pilot study

Lilian Krist  1 , Fernando Dimeo, Thomas Keil
Affiliations

Can progressive resistance training twice a week improve mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life in very elderly nursing-home residents with impaired mobility? A pilot study

Lilian Krist et al. Clin Interv Aging. 2013.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effects of progressive resistance training on mobility, muscle strength, and quality of life in nursing-home residents with impaired mobility.

Methods: Nursing-home residents aged 77 years and older with impaired mobility were recruited in Berlin, Germany. The eight-week exercise program consisted of progressive resistance training twice a week. Mobility (primary outcome) was assessed with the Elderly Mobility Scale (zero = worst, 20 = best) at baseline and after 8 weeks. Muscle strength (secondary outcome) was determined by the eight-repetition maximum. The Short Form-36 Health Survey was used to assess quality of life.

Results: Of the 15 participants (mean age 84 years, range 77-97 years), ten completed the 8-week program. Mobility (Elderly Mobility Scale mean ± standard deviation pre 14.1 ± 3.2 and post 17.5 ± 3.6; P = 0.005) as well as muscle strength of upper and lower limbs improved (from 62% at chest press up to 108% at leg extension machine), whereas most quality of life subscales did not show considerable change.

Conclusion: Resistance training twice a week over 2 months seemed to considerably improve mobility and muscle strength in persons aged 77-97 years with impaired mobility.

Keywords: elderly; mobility; muscle strength; nursing home; resistance training.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Individual improvement of mobility score on the Elderly Mobility Scale before and after training intervention for women (n = 6) and men (n = 4).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of percentage increase in eight-repetition maximum for each training machine for male (n = 4) and female (n = 6) study participants. Notes: Horizontal line in the box represents the median; lower and upper end of the box represents the 25th and 75th percentile, respectively; maximum length of each whisker represents 1.5 times the interquartile range; dot represents the outlier.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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