Similar Effects of 24 Weeks of Resistance Training Performed with Different Frequencies on Muscle Strength, Muscle Mass, and Muscle Quality in Older Women

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(6): 623-635, 2019. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of 24 weeks of resistance training (RT) performed 2 vs. 3 times per week on muscle strength, muscle mass, and muscle quality in older women. Thirty-nine older women (≥ 60 years old) were randomly assigned to two groups according to RT frequency (G2x = two sessions per week, n=19; and G3x = three sessions per week, n=20) and were submitted to 24 weeks of whole-body RT, divided into two stages of 12 weeks. In the first stage, participants performed 1 set of 10 to 15 repetitions in each of eight exercise, whereas in the second stage, they performed 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions. Muscle strength was assessed by one repetition maximum (1RM) tests in chest press, knee extension, and biceps preacher curl, while the lean soft tissue was estimated by DXA. The muscle quality index was determined by the ratio between strength and lean soft tissue. There were observed similar increases between groups for muscle strength (G2x=19.5%; G3x=22.2%), lean soft tissue (G2x=3.0%; G3x=1.6%), and muscle quality index (G2x=16.0%; G3x=21.1%). These results indicate that RT-induced muscular adaptation occurs regardless of training twice or thrice a week in older women. Instructors, coaches and practitioners can choose their training frequency preference, since both frequencies provided similar adaptations

Impacto do estado nutricional na composição corporal e força muscular de idosas inseridas em um programa de treinamento com pesos

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o impacto do estado nutricional na composição corporal e força muscular de idosas inseridas em um programa de treinamento com pesos (TP). Quarenta e oito idosas foram divididas em três grupos: eutróficas (EUT, IMC ≤ 24,9 kg/m²), sobrepeso (SOB, IMC entre 25,0 e 29,9 kg/m²) e obesas (OBE, IMC ≥ 30,0 kg/m2). O TP foi realizado por 12 semanas, uma série de 10 a 15 repetições, oito exercícios, três sessões semanais. Avaliações da composição corporal (massa muscular, massa gorda e gordura de tronco), força e qualidade muscular foi realizado. Interação foi encontrada para a massa muscular onde o grupo EUT apresentaram efeito significativo (+ 4,0%) quando comparado ao SOB (+ 1,4%) e OBE (+ 1,4%). Efeito do tempo foi observado para a força muscular (EUT = + 10,6%, SOB = + 7,5% e OBE = + 11,0%), qualidade muscular (EUT = + 6,1%, SOB = + 6,3% e OBE = + 9,8%), gordura de tronco (EUT = - 3,3%, SOB = - 0,7% e OBE = - 0,7%) e massa gorda (EUT = - 3,0%, SOB = - 1,5% e OBE = - 0,5%). Os resultados sugerem que o TP é efetivo para a melhora da força, qualidade muscular, massa muscular, gordura de tronco e massa gorda de mulheres idosas, porém o estado nutricional pode ser determinante nas modificações da massa muscular

Effect of two different weekly resistance training frequencies on muscle strength and blood pressure in normotensive older women

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of two different weekly resistance training (RT) frequencies on muscle strength and blood pressure (BP) in normotensive older women. Thirty normotensive and physically independent older women participated in the study, which were divided into two groups: RT performed in two weekly sessions (G2X, n = 17; 67.6 ± 4.6 years; 69.7 ± 13.4 kg; 156.6 ± 5.8 cm) and three weekly sessions (G3X; n = 13; 68.7 ± 5.0 years; 69.8 ± 16.1 kg, 155.2 ± 7.8 cm). The RT program was composed by eight exercises for different muscle groups (upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs), lasting 24 weeks (two phases of 12 weeks each). In the first phase, exercises were performed in one set of 10-15 maximum repetitions per exercise, while in the second phase, two sets were performed. BP and muscle strength (1RM) measures were performed at pre-training and after 12 and 24 weeks of RT. Increases in total muscle strength (P 0.05) in systolic BP and diastolic BP were found in both groups. The results suggest that 24 weeks of a supervised RT program improve muscle strength without affecting BP in normotensive older women, regardless of frequency of two or three weekly sessions

Effects of different order of combined training on functional capacity, blood pressure, and body composition in women from 53 to 79 years old

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of order of resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on functional capacity, blood pressure, and body composition in middle-aged and older women. METHODS: Twenty-two participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: RT followed by HIIT (RT-HIIT, n = 10, mean age 64.5 ± 7.9 years) or HIIT followed by RT (HIIT-RT, n = 10, mean age 59.32 ± 4.44 years). Both groups trained twice a week for 8 weeks. RT was composed of 7 exercises for the upper and lower body. HIIT was composed of alternate pairings of high-intensity (&gt; 85% of maximum heart rate [MHR]) and moderate-intensity (60% MHR) running. RESULTS: A time effect was found for upper-body muscle endurance (HIIT-RT = +9.43%; RT-HIIT = +6.16%), agility and dynamic balance (HIIT-RT = -5.96%; RT-HIIT = -8.57%), and cardiorespiratory fitness (HIIT-RT = +5.14%; RT-HIIT = +6.13%), with no difference between groups. Body composition and blood pressure did not change throughout the investigation for either group. CONCLUSION: Eight weeks of a combined HIIT and RT exercise program improved functional capacity of middle-aged and older women without altering blood pressure and body composition, regardless of the order of exercises.</p

Long-term creatine supplementation improves muscular performance during resistance training in older women

This study examined the effects of long-term creatine supplementation combined with resistance training (RT) on the one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength, motor functional performance (e.g., 30-s chair stand, arm curl, and getting up from lying on the floor tests) and body composition (e.g., fat-free mass, muscle mass, and % body fat using DEXA scans) in older women. Eighteen healthy women (64.9 ± 5.0 years) were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either a creatine (CR, N = 9) or placebo (PL, N = 9) group. Both groups underwent a 12-week RT program (3 days week-1), consuming an equivalent amount of either creatine (5.0 g day-1) or placebo (maltodextrin). After 12 week, the CR group experienced a greater (P 0.05) in body mass or % body fat were observed from pre- to post-test in either group. These results indicate that long-term creatine supplementation combined with RT improves the ability to perform submaximal-strength functional tasks and promotes a greater increase in maximal strength, fat-free mass and muscle mass in older women. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg