Abstract
Endurance and strength training are effective strategies for counteracting age-associated reductions in physical performance in older adults, with a combination of both exercise modes recommended to maximise potential fitness benefits. This meta-analysis sought to quantify the effects of same-session combined endurance and strength training on fitness in adults aged over 50 years. Five electronic databases were searched with studies required to include one of the following outcome measures: VO2peak, 6-min walk test (6MWT), 8-ft timed up-and-go (TUG), and 30-s chair stand. Separate random-effects meta-analyses compared combined training with (1) no-exercise control, (2) endurance training, and (3) strength training with probabilistic magnitude-based inferences subsequently applied. Twenty-seven studies involving 1346 subjects with a mean age of 68.8 years (range 54–85 years) were included in the analysis. The meta-analysed effect on VO2peak was a moderately beneficial effect for the combined training compared to no-exercise controls (3.6 mL kg−1 min−1; ± 95% confidence limits 0.8 mL kg−1 min−1) with additional increases for studies with greater proportions of female participants and shorter training interventions. Combined training also had small-to-moderately beneficial effects on VO2peak when compared to endurance training (0.8 mL kg−1 min−1; ± 1.0 mL kg−1 min−1), 30-s chair stand when compared with strength training (1.1 repetitions; ± 0.5 repetitions) and on TUG (0.8 s; ± 0.7 s), 30-s chair stand (2.8 repetitions; ± 1.7 repetitions), and 6MWT (31.5 m; ± 22.4 m) when compared to no-exercise controls. All other comparisons were unclear. Same-session combined training can induce clinically relevant fitness improvements in older adults.
Highlights
IntroductionReduced levels of cardiorespiratory [1] and muscular fitness [2] have been associated with increased mortality and morbidity
Human ageing is associated with progressive declines across multiple physiological systems, with changes in the cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular systems some of the mostElectronic supplementary material The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.pronounced
Given the proposed benefit of training programmes involving a combination of endurance and strength training on physical performance in older adults, we sought to systematically review and quantify the effects of same-session combined training on measures of fitness in adults aged over 50 years
Summary
Reduced levels of cardiorespiratory [1] and muscular fitness [2] have been associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Improving both of these physical components offers the most effective strategy to reduce all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk [3]. Despite the implications of reduced physiological functioning on disease risk and lifespan, maintaining an independent and inclusive lifestyle may be of greater relevance to older. Despite the inevitable declines in physiological functioning observed with ageing, older adults remain highly trainable into advanced age with substantial fitness improvements possible following short-term training programmes [8, 9]. As higher levels of both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are related to improved functional performance and reduced mortality risk, these physical components are key targets for intervention
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