Physical function predicts improvement in quality of life in elderly icelanders after 12 weeks of resistance exercise

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 62 - 66
• Main Authors: Geirsdottir, Olof Gudny, Arnarson, A., Briem, K., Ramel, A., Tomasson, K., Jonsson, P. V., Thorsdottir, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aging; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Body Fluid Compartments; Cardiovascular disease; Exercise; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatrics; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Hand Strength; Health care; Health Status; Hospitals; Humans; Iceland; Intervention; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Movement; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal; Neurosciences; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Older people; Physical Fitness; Physical Function Predicts Improvement in Quality of Life After 12 Weeks of Resistance Exercise; Primary Care Medicine; Quality of Life; Quality of Life Research; Resistance Training; Strength training; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Iceland; Germany; elderly people; 6 minute walking distance; resistance exercise; Health related quality of life (HRQL); function; Physical exercise; Human; Walking distance; Health; Prediction; Metabolic diseases; Quality of life; Resistance; Elderly
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-011-0076-7

Background
Little is known about the effects of resistance training on health related quality of life (HRQL) in the elderly.
Aim
The main purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of resistance training on strength, body composition, functional capacity and HRQL in independent living elderly people. We hypothesised that resistance training would improve lean mass, muscle strength, physical function and HRQL.
Methods
Subjects (N = 237, 73.7±5.7yrs, 58.2% female) participated in a 12-week resistance exercise program (3 times/week; 3 sets, 6–8 repetitions at 75–80% of the 1-repetition maximum) designed to increase strength and muscle mass of major muscle groups. Body composition, quadriceps- and grip strength, timed up and go test (TUG), six minute walk for distance (6MW) and HRQL were measured at baseline and endpoint.
Results
Two hundred-and-four participants completed the study. Although the increase in lean mass was small (+0.8 kg, P<0.01), quadriceps strength (+53.5N), grip strength (+3.0lb), TUG (-0.6sec), 6MW (+33.6m) and HRQL (+1.2 t-score) improved significantly (all P<0.01). Changes in 6MW predicted improvement in HRQL after 12 weeks.
Conclusions
Our study shows that a 12-week resistance exercise program significantly improves lean mass, muscle strength, physical function and HRQL in elderly individuals, and that improvements in physical function predict improvements in HRQL. Our study indicates that resistance training should be promoted for the elderly as it has the potential to improve physical performance, thereby prolonging healthy, independent aging.