STRENGTH AND POWER CHANGES FOLLOWING RESISTANCE TRAINING IN OLDER AND YOUNGER WOMEN 435

Abstract

It has been shown that older individuals can improve or maintain muscular strength and power by resistance training; however, it is unclear how the magnitude of their responses to resistance training compare to those of younger individuals. Therefore, we measured upper and lower body strength (one repetition maximum (1RM)) and power in eight older women (OW, 60.4 ± 1.3 yrs) and nine younger women (YW, 25.9 ± 1.2 yrs) before and after 12 weeks of progressive resistance training (RT; 2 d/wk, 3 sets/exercise/d) performed at 80% of the 1RM. Fat-free mass was similar (43.1 ±2 vs. 43.1 ±1 kg) in OW and YW. All RT, 1RM and power measurements were made on Keiser pneumatic resistance equipment. Below are the changes (mean ± SE) in 1RM and power at 80% of 1RM in two muscle groups after 12 weeks of RT:Table Regardless of age, all of the women (n=17) increased upper and lower body strength and power with RT (p<0.05). Increases in left knee extensor strength, upper body strength, and upper and lower body power were similar between OW and YW; however, OW increased right knee extensor strength less than YW. These data demonstrate that older and younger women have a similar capacity for improving upper and lower body muscular strength and power.