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High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fiatarone, MA; Marks, EC; Ryan, ND; Meredith, CN; Lipsitz, LA; Evans, WJ
Published in: JAMA
June 13, 1990

Muscle dysfunction and associated mobility impairment, common among the frail elderly, increase the risk of falls, fractures, and functional dependency. We sought to characterize the muscle weakness of the very old and its reversibility through strength training. Ten frail, institutionalized volunteers aged 90 +/- 1 years undertook 8 weeks of high-intensity resistance training. Initially, quadriceps strength was correlated negatively with walking time (r = -.745). Fat-free mass (r = .732) and regional muscle mass (r = .752) were correlated positively with muscle strength. Strength gains averaged 174% +/- 31% (mean +/- SEM) in the 9 subjects who completed training. Midthigh muscle area increased 9.0% +/- 4.5%. Mean tandem gait speed improved 48% after training. We conclude that high-resistance weight training leads to significant gains in muscle strength, size, and functional mobility among frail residents of nursing homes up to 96 years of age.

Duke Scholars

Published In

JAMA

ISSN

0098-7484

Publication Date

June 13, 1990

Volume

263

Issue

22

Start / End Page

3029 / 3034

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Lifting
  • Muscular Atrophy
  • Muscles
  • Male
  • Hypertrophy
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
 

Citation

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Fiatarone, M. A., Marks, E. C., Ryan, N. D., Meredith, C. N., Lipsitz, L. A., & Evans, W. J. (1990). High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle. JAMA, 263(22), 3029–3034.
Fiatarone, M. A., E. C. Marks, N. D. Ryan, C. N. Meredith, L. A. Lipsitz, and W. J. Evans. “High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle.JAMA 263, no. 22 (June 13, 1990): 3029–34.
Fiatarone MA, Marks EC, Ryan ND, Meredith CN, Lipsitz LA, Evans WJ. High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle. JAMA. 1990 Jun 13;263(22):3029–34.
Fiatarone, M. A., et al. “High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle.JAMA, vol. 263, no. 22, June 1990, pp. 3029–34.
Fiatarone MA, Marks EC, Ryan ND, Meredith CN, Lipsitz LA, Evans WJ. High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle. JAMA. 1990 Jun 13;263(22):3029–3034.
Journal cover image

Published In

JAMA

ISSN

0098-7484

Publication Date

June 13, 1990

Volume

263

Issue

22

Start / End Page

3029 / 3034

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Lifting
  • Muscular Atrophy
  • Muscles
  • Male
  • Hypertrophy
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Biomechanical Phenomena