Effects of high-intensity interval training combined with traditional strength or power training on functionality and physical fitness in healthy older men : a randomized controlled trial

Concurrent training (CT) is an efficient strategy to improve neuromuscular function and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults, which are factors of pivotal importance for the maintenance of functional capacity with aging. However, there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of power training (PT) as an alternative to traditional strength training (TST) during CT. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of 16 weeks (twice weekly) TST combined with high intensity interval training (TST + HIIT) vs. PT combined with HIIT (PT + HIIT) on functional performance, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in older men. Thirty five older men (65.8 ± 3.9 years) were randomly allocated into two training groups: TST + HIIT (n = 18), and PT + HIIT (n = 17). TST + HIIT performed resistance training at intensities ranging from 65% to 80% 1RM at slow controlled speed (≅ 2 s for each concentric phase), whereas PT + HIIT trained at intensities ranging from 40% to 60% of 1RM at maximal intentional speed. Both groups performed HIIT at intensities ranging from 75 to 90% of VO2peak. Participants performed functional tests (sit-to-stand, timed-up-and-go, stair climbing); cardiopulmonary exercise testing (maximal cycling power output: Wmax, peak oxygen uptake: VO2peak, cycling economy), as well as body composition assessment (DXA) before, post 8 and post 16 weeks of training. The groups improved similarly (P < 0.05) with training in all functional capacity outcomes, Wmax, cycling economy, VO2peak and body composition (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that HIIT based CT programs involving TST vs. PT are equally effective in improving functionality, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in healthy older men

Multicomponent exercise and the hallmarks of frailty : considerations on cognitive impairment and acute hospitalization

Frailty syndrome encompasses several physical hallmarks such as loss of muscle strength, power output and mass, which leads to poor gait ability, fatigue, falls and overall difficulty to perform activities of daily living. On the other hand, physical exercise interventions induce marked improvements in frailty physical hallmarks (e.g., gait ability, muscle strength, balance and falls). In addition, because cognitive impairment is closely related to frailty syndrome, exercise is an effective intervention to counteract the physical consequences of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Moreover, exercise and early rehabilitation programs are among the interventions through which functional decline is prevented in older patients during acute hospitalization. This narrative review provides a summary of the effectiveness of different exercise interventions in the hallmarks of frailty. Furthermore, this review addresses special considerations on exercise in frail older with cognitive impairment. Also, we review the role of exercise interventions in acute hospitalized older patients. There is strong evidence that exercise training is an effective intervention for improving muscle strength, muscle mass, incidence of falls, and gait ability in frail older adults. In addition, it seems that multicomponent exercise intervention programs including resistance, gait and balance training is the best strategy for improving the frailty hallmarks, as well as for reducing the rate of falls in frail individuals, and so maintaining their functional capacity during aging. This training modality also proved to be safe and effective to revert the functional decline and cognitive impairment in acutely hospitalized older adults of advanced age. Based on the association between muscle power output and physical function, explosive resistance training should be included in the exercise intervention in order to optimize the functional outcomes in frail older adults