What happens when the frailest, oldest people are given real strength training instead of gentle movement.
3 studies on this topic
2017
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Studied: 16 studies pooled (physically frail elderly)
Pooling 16 studies, resistance training (alone or combined with other exercise) produced 6.6–37% strength gains and improved muscle power, function and fall risk in frail older adults — and a modest starting intensity of 30–70% of one-rep max was enough to see results.
1994
New England Journal of Medicine
Studied: 100 nursing home residents, mean age 87
Nursing home residents averaging 87 years old did ten weeks of progressive resistance training. Muscle strength, gait speed and stair-climbing power all improved; a nutritional supplement without exercise did not produce those gains on its own.
1990
JAMA
Studied: 10 frail, institutionalized volunteers, mean age 90
Ten frail, institutionalized volunteers averaging 90 years old completed 8 weeks of high-intensity resistance training. Average strength gains of 174%, muscle area up ~9%, and walking speed improved 48% — the founding proof that extreme age does not block major strength adaptation.
These summaries are general education, not medical advice. Individual results vary, and research on groups does not replace advice about your body from your doctor.
