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.

Keywords: aging; maximal strength; muscle function; resistance training; strength training.

FIGURE 1

Eccentron machine illustration, a multi-joint eccentric RT approach. The machine uses a motor to drive the pedals toward the subject, unilaterally in an alternating manner. The force level produced by the subject is viewed in real time on a computer simulation, which presents a target for the subject to attempt to reach with each repetition. The movement primarily involves the muscles surrounding the knee and hip joints, and to a lesser degree the ankle.