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Using the specificity and overload principles to prevent sarcopenia, falls and fractures with exercise.

Bone
January 1, 2023
M C Devries et al. (2 authors)
ReviewJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to review evidence on resistance training for fall, fracture, and sarcopenia prevention in older adults, focusing on specificity, progressive overload principles, and potential effect modifiers like protein intake and creatine supplementation.

Results Summary

Resistance training improves muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in older adults and may prevent bone loss, though its effectiveness for bone mass may require combination with impact exercise. Exercise programs, particularly those emphasizing balance and functional training, prevent falls, with resistance training recommended at 6-12 repetitions maximum intensity twice weekly.

Population

Older adults

Effective Dosage

Resistance training for major muscle groups at 6-12 repetitions maximum intensity, at least twice weekly

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Resistance training
increase
muscle mass
older adults
-
can improve
#1
Resistance training
increase
muscle strength
older adults
-
can improve
#2
Resistance training
increase
a variety of physical performance measures
older adults
-
can improve
#3
Resistance training
decrease
bone loss
-
-
may also prevent
#4
Resistance training
increase
bone mass
-
-
may also increase
#5
Exercise programs
decrease
falls
-
-
prevent
#6
Abstract

The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the evidence on exercise for fall, fracture and sarcopenia prevention, including evidence that aligns with the specificity and progressive overload principles used in exercise physiology, implementation strategies and future research priorities. We also provide a brief discussion of the influence of protein intake and creatine supplementation as potential effect modifiers. We prioritized evidence from randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Resistance training can improve muscle mass, muscle strength and a variety of physical performance measures in older adults. Resistance training may also prevent bone loss or increase bone mass, although whether it needs to be done in combination with impact exercise to be effective is less clear, because many studies use multicomponent interventions. Exercise programs prevent falls, and subgroup and network meta-analyses suggest an emphasis on balance and functional training, or specifically, anticipatory control, dynamic stability, functional stability limits, reactive control and flexibility, to maximize efficacy. Resistance training for major muscle groups at a 6-12 repetitions maximum intensity, and challenging balance exercises should be performed at least twice weekly. Choose resistance training exercises aligned with patient goals or movements done during daily activities (task specificity), alongside balance exercises tailored to ability and aspects of balance that need improvement. Progress the volume, level of difficulty or other aspects to see continuous improvement (progressive overload). A critical future priority will be to address implementation barriers and facilitators to enhance uptake and adherence.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansAgedSarcopeniaExerciseResistance TrainingMuscle StrengthFractures, BoneExercise Therapy
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year3.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.71
NIH Percentile82.7%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.93
Normalized Score0.72
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