EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM RESISTIVE TRAINING ON BODY COMPOSITION IN OLDER DIABETIC AND WELL ADULTS

Abstract

Body composition changes, especially sarcopenia, are factors that may influence physical capabilities and functional independence in older adults. The impact of long-term strength training and whether or not the influence is similar for older adults with diabetes and well older adults is unclear. PURPOSE This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a 24-month resistive training intervention on body composition, including sarcopenia in older diabetic and well adults. METHODS A total of 107 older adults (52 with diabetes, age 66.1 yr; 29 exercisers (DE) and 23 comparisons - DC) (55 well, age 71.6 yr; 30 exercisers (WE) and 25 comparisons - WC) served as subjects. The DE and WE resistive trained 3 times a week, an hour a day. The subjects trained at 50%, 60% and 70% of their one repetition maximum (1RM) and the training sessions consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up and flexibility exercises, and 50 minutes of resistive training. The subjects trained 5 upper extremity (biceps, triceps, arm cross, pullover and lateral raises), 3 trunk (abdomen, low back and torso arm) and 3 lower extremity (knee extensors, knee flexors and plantar flexor) muscle groups on a multi-station Nautilus system. They were tested for 1RM at baseline, 12 and 24 months. The data were evaluated for differences with an ANOVA. RESULTS There was an increase (p <0.05) in strength for each of the 11 muscle groups for both the DE and WE at 12 and 24 months. The WE experienced a decrease in waist-hip ratio (p < 0.05) at 24 months. The DE experienced a decrease in thigh skinfolds (S) and thigh S/Circumference ratio at 24 months. There were no body composition changes for the WC and DC subjects. CONCLUSION These results suggest that older DE experience an increase and older WE no changes in thigh muscle mass following 24-month of training that include lower extremities. The different responses may be partially due to differences in sarcopenic state and metabolic responses during training. Supported by VA Medical Center contract number E721–4RA