Exercise: effects on physical functional performance in independent older adults. Muscle strength and physical performance as predictors of mortality, hospitalization, and disability in the oldest old. Physical fitness and psychological benefits of strength training in community dwelling older adults. Effectiveness of exercise interventions on physical function in community-dwelling frail older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews Older adults recently discharged from the hospital: effect of aerobic interval exercise on health-related quality of life, physical fitness, and physical activity. Effect of low-intensity versus high-intensity resistance training on the functioning of the institutionalized frail elderly Effects of multicomponent training on functional fitness in older adults. Maintenance Effects of a DVD-Delivered Exercise Intervention on Physical Function in Older Adults. Physical exercise for functional capacity, blood immune function, fatigue, and quality of life in high-risk prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy: a prospective, randomized clinical study. The Effects of Exercise on Perceived Stress and IL-6 Levels Among Older Adults The relationship of joint symptoms with exercise performance in older adults. Physical training in institutionalized elderly people with multiple diagnoses--a controlled pilot study. Effects of arthritis exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived activities of daily living measures in older adults with arthritis. The effects of an exercise program for older adults with osteoarthritis of the hip. Physical activity and functional limitations in older adults: a systematic review related to Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines The Effect of Strength Training on Functional Fitness in Older Patients with Chronic Lung Disease Enrolled in Pulmonary Rehabilitation Resistive training and long-term function in older adults.
BACKGROUND Age-related loss in physiologic capacities contributes to the decline in physical function in the elderly population . Despite the beneficial effects of exercise interventions on maximal physiologic capacity measures , the functional benefits have not been shown in independently living older adults . The objective of this study was to evaluate exercise in independent older adults for significant and meaningful improvements in physical function , not detected by commonly used measures of physical function . METHODS In a r and omized controlled study , 49 independently living men and women were assigned to either a nonexercise control group ( Control ; n = 26 ) or an exercise training group ( Exercise ; n = 23 ) . Participants ( age = 76+/-4 ) in good general health were recruited from retirement communities or apartments . The combined endurance and strength training was performed at 75 % to 80 % intensity ; the groups met 3 times/week for 6 months of supervised sessions . Outcome measures included physical capacity , health status , and physical function using a newly developed performance test -- the Continuous Scale-Physical Functional Performance test ( CS-PFP ) . RESULTS Compared to the Control group , the Exercise group showed significant increases in maximal oxygen consumption ( 11 % ) and muscle strength ( 33 % ) . No significant differences were found between groups for changes in the Sickness Impact Profile , SF-36 scales , or the 6-minute walk . However , the CS-PFP score improved significantly in the Exercise group ( 14 % , effect size 0.80 ) . CONCLUSIONS Independent older adults gain meaningful functional benefits from several months of exercise training . The public health importance of physical activity may relate not just to its role in preventing decline , but also to its role in enhancing physical function OBJECTIVES To evaluate the predictive value of muscle strength and physical performance in the oldest old for all-cause mortality ; hospitalization ; and the onset of disability , defined as a decline in activities of daily living ( ADLs ) , independent of muscle mass , inflammatory markers , and comorbidities . DESIGN A prospect i ve , observational , population -based follow-up study . SETTING Three well-circumscribed areas of Belgium . PARTICIPANTS Five hundred sixty participants aged 80 and older were followed for 33.5 months ( interquartile range 31.1 - 35.6 months ) . MEASUREMENTS  Grip strength , Short Physical Performance Battery ( SPPB ) score , and muscle mass  were measured at baseline ; ADLs at baseline and after 20 months ; and all-cause mortality and time to first hospitalization from inclusion onward . Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were calculated for all-cause mortality and hospitalization . Logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of decline in ADLs . RESULTS Kaplan-Meier curves showed significantly higher all-cause mortality and hospitalization in subjects in the lowest tertile of grip strength and SPPB score . The adjusted Cox proportional hazards model showed that participants with high grip strength or a high SPPB score had a lower risk of mortality and hospitalization , independent of muscle mass , inflammatory markers , and comorbidity . A relationship was found between SPPB score and decline in ADLs , independent of muscle mass , inflammation , and comorbidity . CONCLUSION In people aged 80 and older , physical performance is a strong predictor of mortality , hospitalization , and disability , and muscle strength is a strong predictor of mortality and hospitalization . All of these relationships were independent of muscle mass , inflammatory markers , and comorbidity Previous studies concerning psychological benefits of exercise among the elderly has focused predominantly on the effects of aerobic exercise . In the present study , psychological and behavioral adaptations in response to 12-weeks of strength training were examined in medically healthy but sedentary 42 older adults ( mean age = 68 years ) . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of high and low intensity resistance training intensity on a ) muscular fitness , b ) psychological affect , and c ) neurocognitive functioning . Subjects were r and omly assigned to high intensity/low volume ( EXH : 2 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions for 75 to 85 % of 1 RM ) , low intensity/high volume ( EXL : 2 sets of 14 to 16 repetitions for 55 to 65 % of 1 RM ) , or no exercise control programs . Prior to and following the 12-week program , subjects underwent comprehensive physiological and psychological evaluations . Physiological assessment included measurements of blood pressure , heart rate , arm and leg muscle strength , body composition , and oxygen consumption ( VO2max ) . Psychological measures included evaluations of mood , anxiety , and physical self-efficacy as well as cognitive functioning . The results of this study indicated that both high and low intensity strength programs were associated with marked improvements in physiological fitness and psychological functioning . Specifically , subjects in the strength training programs increased overall muscle strength by 38.6 % and reduced percent body fat by 3.0 % . Favorable psychological changes in the strength-trained subjects included improvements in positive and negative mood , trait anxiety , and perceived confidence for physical capability . The treatment effects of neurocognitive functioning were not significant . In summary , this study demonstrated that participation in 12-weeks of high or low intensity strength training can improve overall physical fitness , mood , and physical self-efficacy in older adults while cognitive functioning remains constant Objectives : This umbrella review aim ed to determine the effectiveness of exercise interventions , alone or in combination with other interventions , in improving physical function in community-dwelling older people identified as pre-frail or frail . Introduction : Exercise is said to have a positive impact on muscle mass and strength which improves physical function and hence is beneficial for the treatment of frailty . Several systematic review s discuss the effects of exercise interventions on physical function parameters , such as strength , mobility , gait , balance and physical performance , and indicate that multi-component exercise , including resistance , aerobic , balance and flexibility training , appears to be the best way in which to improve physical function parameters in frail older people . However , there is still uncertainty as to which exercise characteristics ( type , frequency , intensity , duration and combinations ) are the most effective and sustainable over the long-term . Inclusion criteria : Participants were adults , 60 years or over , living in the community and identified as pre-frail or frail . Quantitative systematic review s , with or without meta- analysis that examined the effectiveness of exercise interventions of any form , duration , frequency and intensity , alone or in combination with other interventions design ed to alter physical function parameters in frail older people , were considered . The quantitative outcome measures were physical function , including muscular strength , gait , balance , mobility and physical performance . Methods : An iterative search strategy for ten bibliometric data bases and gray literature was developed . Critical appraisal of seven systematic review s was conducted independently by two review ers using a st and ard Joanna Briggs Institute tool . Data was extracted independently by two review ers using a st and ard Joanna Briggs Institute data extraction tool and summarized using a narrative synthesis approach . Results : Seven systematic review s were included in this umbrella review , with a total of 58 relevant r and omized controlled trials and 6927 participants . Five systematic review s examined the effects of exercise only , while two systematic review s reported on exercise in combination with a nutritional approach , including protein supplementations , as well as fruit and dairy products . The average  exercise frequency was 2–3 times per week ( mean 3.0 ± 1.5 times per week ; range 1–7 weekly ) for 10–90 minutes per session ( mean of 52.0 ± 16.5 mins ) and a total duration of 5–72 weeks with the majority lasting a minimum of 2.5 months ( mean 22.7 ± 17.7 weeks ) . Multi-component exercise interventions can currently be recommended for pre-frail and frail older adults to improve muscular strength , gait speed , balance and physical performance , including resistance , aerobic , balance and flexibility tasks . Resistance training alone also appeared to be beneficial , in particular for improving muscular strength , gait speed and physical performance . Other types of exercise were not sufficiently studied and their effectiveness is yet to be established . Conclusions : Interventions for pre-frail and frail older adults should include multi-component exercises , including in particular resistance training , as well as aerobic , balance and flexibility tasks . Future research should adopt a consistent definition of frailty and investigate the effects of other types of exercise alone or in combination with nutritional interventions so that more specific recommendations can be made OBJECTIVES To compare the effect of high-intensity aerobic interval exercise ( HIA ) with home-based exercise ( HB ) in older adults with chronic disease soon after discharge from the hospital . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . SETTING Hospital . PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling older adults aged 70 to 92 ( N = 115 ) were recruited while in the hospital . After discharge , they were r and omized to HIA group ( n = 59 ) or HB ( n = 56 ) . INTERVENTION High-intensity aerobic interval exercise ( HIA ) consisted of endurance , strength , and balance exercises . The HB consisted of low-intensity exercises and telephone follow-up from a physical therapist . MEASUREMENTS Health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey , physical fitness was measured using the Senior Fitness Test , and physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly . RESULTS Intention-to-treat analysis showed that both groups improved their HRQOL and physical activity after 3 months . Improvements on the Senior Fitness Test ( chair st and , arm curl and 6-minute walk ( 6MWT ) ) were significantly greater in the HIA group than the HB group . The mean difference was 25.9 m on the 6MWT ( P = .001 , effect size d = 0.2 ) , 1.3 per 30 seconds on the chair st and s mean ( P = .001 , effect size d = 0.3 ) , and 1.6 per 30 seconds on the arm curl ( P = .001 , effect size d = 0.4 ) . CONCLUSION High-intensity aerobic interval exercise ( HIA ) participants significantly improved their physical fitness . Both groups increased their HRQOL and physical activity . The findings suggest that exercise therapy should be incorporated as a part of the treatment for older people at risk for functional decline Frailty has emerged as an important risk factor for disability . Age-related declines in physical and physiological function lead to increased risk of loss of independence and poor quality of life . Recent evidence has shown the effectiveness of physical exercise programmes in preventing or reversing frailty . The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the functioning of frail elderly individuals after undergoing  resistance training  for 3 days a week for 8 weeks . The effectiveness of exercise training was investigated in 48 frail elderly individuals who were r and omly assigned to the following intervention groups : high-intensity ( HI ; n=16 ; age : 69–96 years ) or low-intensity ( LI ; n=16 ; age : 77–93 years ) strength training groups or a control group ( n=16 ; age : 76–93 years ) with no specific exercise programme . Participants were assessed for muscle strength , physical function , activities of daily living , depression and quality of life . The HI group had significantly better results ( P<0.05 ) on the Short Physical Performance Test than the LI group ; however , the LI group did show a significant improvement in those scores , whereas the scores of the control group worsened . Results for the other evaluations were similarly favourable in both exercise groups ( P>0.05 ) . The study showed that LI exercise was as effective as HI exercise for most parameters tested . Exercise training is useful for the prevention or treatment of frailty , as it improves functioning by contributing positively to muscle strength , gait , balance and quality of life The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 9-week supervised multicomponent exercise program on functional fitness and body composition in independent older adults . Forty-two adults age 60 - 86 years were r and omly assigned to an exercise or a control group and were evaluated before and after training . The training program consisted of 3 sessions of walking , strengthening , and flexibility exercises per week . The multicomponent training program result ed in significant ( p < .005 ) improvements on the chair st and , arm curl , 6-min walk , and up- and -go tests . The findings of this study indicate that a 9-week training program increased upper and lower body strength , aerobic endurance , and agility/dynamic balance in older adults . The most affected components of functional fitness were lower body strength and aerobic endurance . There was no effect of the 9-week training on body composition BACKGROUND Exercise training has been demonstrated to enhance physical function and to have a protective effect against  functional limitations and disability in older adults . PURPOSE The objective of this study was to determine whether the effects of a home-based , DVD-delivered exercise intervention on functional performance and limitations were maintained 6-month postintervention termination . METHODS Follow-up assessment s of functional performance and limitations were conducted in a sample of community-dwelling older adults ( N = 237 ) who participated in a 6-month r and omized controlled exercise trial . Participants were initially r and omized to a DVD-delivered exercise intervention or an attentional control condition . The Short Physical Performance Battery , measures of flexibility and strength , and functional limitations were assessed immediately before and after the intervention and then again 6 months later . Analyses of covariance were conducted to examine changes in physical function between the two conditions at the end of the intervention to 6-month follow-up . RESULTS There were statistically significant adjusted group differences in the Short Physical Performance Battery ( η(2 ) = 0.03 , p = .01 ) , upper-body strength ( η(2 ) = 0.03 , p = .005 ) , and lower-body flexibility ( η(2 ) = 0.02 , p = .05 ) , indicating that gains brought about by the intervention were maintained 6 months later . CONCLUSIONS A DVD-delivered exercise program specifically design ed to target elements of functional fitness in older adults can produce clinical ly meaningful gains in physical function that are maintained beyond intervention cessation BACKGROUND During radiotherapy ( RT ) , prostate cancer ( PCa ) patients may report cancer related fatigue ( CRF ) , which impairs functional capacity , psychological status , and quality of life ( QoL ) . RT can induce cytokine responses that could play a role in mediating radiation toxicity by increasing inflammation . While it is known that physical exercise plays an important anti-inflammatory role in healthy adults , its specific anti-inflammatory effects in PCa patients with CRF have not yet been determined . AIM Previous studies have shown that physical exercise in cancer patients undergoing RT improves cardiac fitness , muscle strength , and QoL , however it is still unknown how physical exercise affects inflammation and its specific consequences in PCa patients . Therefore , the purpose of this trial was to examine the effect of supervised physical exercise on inflammatory blood markers , as well as the relationship of these parameters with functional capacity , fatigue , and QoL in high-risk PCa patients undergoing RT .  DESIGN This was a prospect i ve , two-arm r and omized controlled clinical trial . SETTING The study was performed in our out patients center . POPULATION Fifty-four high-risk PCa men were r and omly allocated to two groups prior to undergoing RT . METHODS Twenty-seven patients performed supervised , moderate-intensity physical exercise ( exercise group ; EG )  and the other 27 formed a control group that carried out normal daily physical activity ( usual group ; UG ) . The following parameters were assessed before and after RT : functional capacity , changes in blood count variables and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines ( interleukin [IL]-1β , IL-6 , tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α ) , fatigue , and QoL ( using FACT-F score and EORTC question naires ) . RESULTS No significant differences existed between the study groups at baseline assessment . After RT , there was a significant improvement in functional capacity ( P<0.05 ) and a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels ( P>0.05 ) and fatigue ( P<0.05 ) in the EG compared to the UG . Fatigue level was significantly higher in the UG ( F[2.126 ] ; P<0.05 ) after RT than before . Physical exercise had no effect on the correlation between inflammatory blood markers and functional capacity and fatigue scores provided by study participants . CONCLUSIONS Regular , moderate-intensity physical exercise improves functional capacity , decreases the production of inflammatory markers and fatigue , and has a positive influence on QoL in high-risk PCa patients during RT . CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT This is one of the first studies to examine the effects of supervised exercise training on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels during RT in PCa patients by measuring functional capacity , fatigue , and Biochemical markers of inflammation have been used in recent physical activity intervention studies . However , these same biochemical markers , mainly proinflammatory cytokines , may also be influenced by the individual ’s level of stress and mood . Accordingly , this pilot study was implemented to determine the effect of a physical activity intervention on perceived stress , mood , quality of life , serum interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) , and cortisol among 10 older adults , age 60 to 90 . The results were compared to those of 10 older adults who were not engaging in regular physical activity . The 10-week intervention was applied using  student nurses who taught the older adults how to calculate 60 % of their maximum heart rate while ambulating for 30-min intervals . After the 10-week period , the participants in the exercise group reported significant improvements in stress , mood , and several quality of life indices . They also demonstrated a significant decrease in serum IL-6 . Stress , mood , and quality of life scores in the exercise group were also significantly improved compared to the control group . This study adds information on the specific intensity , duration , and frequency of exercise necessary to achieve improvements in psychological variables and IL-6 levels . It also supports the need to measure psychological stress in physical activity intervention studies . Although the psychological variables were highly correlated , there were only weak correlations found with IL-6 , suggesting that other factors are likely involved in reducing IL-6 when engaging in low-impact physical activity OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to determine if exercise increases joint symptoms in older adults with a history of arthritis or produces symptoms in older adults without such history . In addition , we examine whether joint symptoms explain the large observed variation in strength gain in older adults undergoing vigorous strength training exercise  , and report the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries upon initiation of an exercise program . DESIGN A population -based , single blinded , r and omized controlled trial with three exercise groups and one control group . SETTING A large urban health maintenance organization . PARTICIPANTS Older men and women ( N = 105 ) aged 68 to 85 , with leg strength below the 50th percentile for their age , sex , height , and weight and without neuromuscular disease or active cardiovascular disease . INTERVENTIONS Supervised exercise in 1-hour sessions , three times each week , for 24 to 26 weeks . One exercise group did strength training ( ST ) using weight machines ( n = 25 ) ; another group did endurance training ( ET ) using stationary cycles ( n = 25 ) ; and the third group did combined strength training and endurance training ( ST+ET ) ( n = 25 ) . The control group ( n = 30 ) received no intervention . MEASUREMENTS Strength was measured at the ankle , knee , hip , and elbow using an isokinetic dynamometer . Joint symptoms were rated on a 6-point scale ( 0 = none , 5 = severe ) . Arthritis severity was based on self-reported use of arthritis medication . Health status was measured with subscales of the SF-36 and Sickness Impact Profile ( SIP ) . RESULTS Joint symptoms fluctuated over time in all exercise groups , but they did not improve or worsen significantly in any group . The physical dimension of the SIP and SF-36 subscale scores , including Bodily Pain Scores , did not change over time in any group . Subjects with arthritis and joint symptoms gained as much strength with strength training as did subjects without joint symptoms . Adjustment for age , gender , baseline strength , adherence , and exercise group did not affect this finding . The rate of minor musculoskeletal injuries was 2.2 injuries per 1000 exercise hours . CONCLUSIONS Moderate intensity stationary cycle exercise and vigorous intensity strength training do not appear to produce or exacerbate joint symptoms in older adults . Joint symptoms did not explain the large variation in gains in strength in older adults participating in a st and ardized strength training exercise program .  Musculoskeletal injuries occurred relatively infrequently , and no major injuries occurred . In evaluating joint pain that occurs in older adults in well regulated exercise programs , clinicians should consider other etiologies before attributing pain to exercise per se Reduction in muscle mass and physical function depends on a variety of interacting factors : age , physical activity level , nutritional state and the type and impact of disease . The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an individualized moderate intensity physical training program on muscle strength , balance , mobility , ambulation and activities of daily living ( ADL ) in institutionalized elderly people aged 65 and over with multiple diagnoses . Baseline assessment s consisted of strength , balance , mobility/ambulation , and ADL .  Twenty-one subjects were included in the intervention program . A control group ( 21 subjects ) was first matched in pairs according to gender , age , ADL and mobility , and then by balance , ambulation and strength . The intervention program was individualized and included strength , mobility , balance and endurance training . Follow-up measures were conducted directly after the intervention and 10 weeks later . After drop-out , 20 subjects in the intervention group and 15 subjects in the control group remained for analyses . Balance and mobility improved significantly in the intervention group while declining in the control group . This pilot study indicates that a physical training program may improve functional capacity for institutionalized elderly persons with multiple diagnoses OBJECTIVE To ascertain the effectiveness of the National Arthritis Foundation ( NAF ) aquatic and on-l and exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived ability to perform activities of daily living ( ADL ) measures in older adults with arthritis . DESIGN The effects of aquatic and on-l and exercise intervention programs were analyzed by repeated- measures analysis of variance by using a planned comparison approach with an independent 3 x 2 ( group by test ) design . omega(2 ) analyses were used to ascertain the relative treatment magnitude of each dependent variable . SETTING Testing in an indoor track facility ; exercise programs conducted in community setting s. PARTICIPANTS A volunteer sample of 30 men and women with arthritis ( osteoarthritis , n=22 ; rheumatoid arthritis , n=8 ) , r and omly assigned into either an aquatic exercise ( n=10 ) , on-l and exercise ( n=10 ) , or control group ( n=10 ) . INTERVENTION Eight-week on-l and and aquatic exercise program . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Functional fitness , ADLs , and h and -held dynamometry measures assessed on a 1-day pretest and posttest session , before and after an 8-week exercise program . RESULTS Aquatic and on-l and exercise subjects showed significant improvements on 9 of 12 functional fitness , 3 of 4 ADLs , and 7 of 8 h and -held isometric strength tests after their respective exercise programs . No significant changes were found in any of these measures for the control group . CONCLUSION Both NAF exercise programs appear to be effective in improving functional physical fitness and perceived ability to perform ADL measures in older adults with arthritis OBJECTIVE . Evaluation of an 8-week exercise program with strength training and lifestyle advice for older adults with osteoarthritis ( OA ) of the hip . Outcome measures were pain , hip function , disability , quality of life ( QOL ) , and body mass index ( BMI ) . METHODS Inclusion criteria for this r and omized controlled trial were : age > or=55 years , clinical diagnosis of OA according to American College of Rheumatology criteria , and living independently . Interview and physical data were collected at baseline , post-test , and followup ( 3 mo ) by trained interviewers and physical therapists with vali date d instruments : Harris Hip Score , Sickness Impact Profile , Groningen Activity Restriction Scale , functional tests ( walking , timed Up & Go , ascending and descending stairs , and toe reaching ) , and visual analog scales ( pain and QOL ) . Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis . Effect sizes were calculated . RESULTS There were 109 participants ( 55 experimental , 54 controls ) . The 15 participants who dropped out were characterized by less tolerance to pain and younger age . The program had a positive effect on pain ( moderate effect at post-test and small effect at followup ) , hip function ( small effect at post-test ) , self-reported disability ( small effect at followup ) , and the timed Up & Go test ( small effect at followup ) . It did not affect QOL , other measures of observed disability , or BMI . CONCLUSION The exercise program had positive effects on pain and hip function , which are important mediators of disability . This study fulfilled a need for older adults with hip OA and provides evidence of the benefit of exercise in the management of hip OA Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .  Methods Prospect i ve cohort studies with an outcome related to functional independence or to cognitive function  were search ed , as well as exercise training interventions that reported a functional outcome . Electronic data base search strategies were used to identify citations which were screened ( title and abstract ) for inclusion . Included articles were review ed to complete st and ardized data extraction tables , and assess study quality . An established system of assessing the level and grade of evidence for recommendations was employed . Results Sixty-six studies met inclusion criteria for the relationship between physical activity and functional independence , and 34 were included with a cognitive function outcome . Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age . For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability . Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity . Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability . A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices . Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age . Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes & NA ; The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a strength training‐enhanced program and a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation ( PR ) program on functional fitness ( FF ) in older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) , using the Senior Fitness Test . Twenty patients were recruited from an outpatient PR program . After completing baseline measures , including muscular strength and the Senior Fitness Test , patients were r and omly assigned to the strength training program ( TR+ST , n = 10 ) or traditional PR program ( TR , n = 10 ) . Patients completed 16 exercise sessions that were conducted twice a week for 8–10 weeks , after which patients repeated outcome measurements . Independent t tests were conducted to determine whether groups differed between measures . Both the TR+ST and TR groups improved on all FF measures . Moderate effect sizes were found for two of the FF measures when the groups were compared . The addition of strength training to PR may have a favorable impact on FF in older patients with COPD The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 24-month moderate-intensity resistive-training intervention on strength and function in older adults .  A repeated- measures experimental research design was employed as a sample of 55 apparently healthy , older , community-dwelling volunteers ( 30 exercisers- 25 women and 5 men ; 25 comparisons- 16 women and 9 men ) were evaluated for strength of 5 muscle groups that influence lower extremity movement and physical function . Strength and function were evaluated at 6-month intervals . The findings from this study indicate that a moderate-intensity resistive-training program increases strength in older adults and that the strength benefits are retained for the duration of the intervention . Furthermore , a long-term strength-training program can increase independent-function skills in older adults and might therefore aid in prolonging functional independence
In frail older persons , moderate-to-large beneficial exercise effects were noted on inflammation , muscle strength and physical functioning .
In healthy older persons , effects of resistance training ( most frequently investigated ) on inflammation or muscle strength can be influenced by the exercise modalities ( intensity and rest interval between sets ) .
Muscle strength seemed the most frequently used outcome measure , with moderate-to-large effects obtained regardless the exercise intervention studied .
Similar effects were found in patients with specific diseases .
Summary Exercise has moderate-to-large effects on muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .
Purpose of review This systematic review reports the most recent literature regarding the effects of physical exercise on  muscle strength , body composition , physical functioning and inflammation in older adults .