Lifting After 60 Builds Strength, Muscle Gains Less Clear
Graded Moderate — pools 16 studies (15 randomized trials) with 801 people; the trials were of moderate quality, results varied, and strength gains may be skewed by missing studies.
- Design
- Meta-analysis
- Participants
- 801
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China
Resistance training made adults aged 60 and over clearly stronger, while muscle mass showed no clear difference.
Resistance training makes people aged 60 and over stronger. That is the result of an analysis that pooled 16 studies with 801 participants, whose average age was almost 73. Those who trained got clearly stronger and did better in tests of physical performance. For muscle mass, however, there was no clear difference compared with people who did not train.
In 15 of the studies, participants were chosen at random to train or not. The programs lasted 10 to 48 weeks. The researchers also looked at speed. Some groups lifted the weight as fast as they could, others deliberately more slowly. In subgroup analyses, the slower pace went along with more strength and muscle mass, the fast pace with better physical performance.
These speed comparisons need caution. Speed was not measured with devices but set as a number of seconds per movement. The studies were of moderate quality. For strength gains, the picture may also be skewed by unpublished studies. The analysis reports no side effects.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.