Lower Extremity Peak Power Training in Elderly Subjects with Moderate Mobility Limitations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a lower extremity high-velocity high-power exercise training intervention in older adults with moderate mobility impairments, and to investigate whether peak power training results in greater increases of peak muscle power output compared to traditional progressive resistance training. METHODS: Fifty-eight community-dwelling older males and females (aged 65 to 94 years) with moderate mobility limitations, as evidenced by a score of 10 or less on the Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the short physical performance battery (mean score 7.7± 1.4) were randomized to either a control group of lower extremity stretching (CON, n = 12), a traditional slow-velocity strength training group (STR, n = 22) or a high-velocity high-power training group (POW, n = 24). Training was performed three times per week for 12 weeks and subjects completed three sets (8–10 repetitions) of bilateral leg press (LP) and knee extension exercises at 70% of the one repetition maximum (1 RM). Assessment of 1RM strength and peak muscle power output was performed at baseline and post-intervention. Regional lean body mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Among the entire study group, baseline measurements of total leg lean mass were strongly associated with both LP strength (r = 0.79, p <0.001) and peak muscle power (r = 0.48. p <0.001). In addition, no significant differences existed between the three groups for 1RM strength or peak power output at baseline. With training, peak muscle power increased significantly in both exercise intervention groups. However, peak power in POW, but not in STR, was significantly greater compared to CON (CONΔ: – 6.4 W; STR Δ: 48.7 W; POWA: 74.8 W*, *p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lower extremity high-velocity high-power exercise training increases peak muscle power in the mobility limited elderly. This increase in peak power is of a greater magnitude compared with traditional progressive resistance training. The results of this study suggest that high-velocity high-power training may be an effective exercise intervention to offset the age-related decline in peak muscle power in older adults with mobility limitations.