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Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.

Experimental gerontology
December 1, 2024
Davi Alves de Santana et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the effects of resistance training on knee extensor muscle hypertrophy in adults aged 65 and older.

Results Summary

Resistance training significantly increased muscle size and fiber area but did not significantly affect leg lean mass. Training duration influenced type II fiber area response, while weekly sets and age did not significantly impact outcomes.

Population

Adults aged 65 years and older.

Effective Dosage

Not specified.

Duration

Varied across studies (meta-analysis included multiple durations).

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
resistance training (RT)
increase
muscle size
adults 65 years and older
SMD = 0.34; 95 % CI: 0.16-0.52; p < 0.001
found a significant effect
#1
resistance training (RT)
increase
fiber area
adults 65 years and older
SMD = 0.54; 95 % CI: 0.24-0.84; p < 0.001
found a significant effect
#2
resistance training (RT)
no change
leg lean mass (LLM)
adults 65 years and older
RMD = 0.22; 95 % CI: -0.22-0.66 p = 0.321
not
#3
resistance training (RT)
increase
quadriceps femoris size
adults 65 years and older
95 % CI: 0.20-0.69; p < 0.001
revealed a significant effect
#4
resistance training (RT)
increase
muscle hypertrophy
older adults
-
promotes
#5
intervention duration
increase
type II fiber area
adults 65 years and older
p = 0.034
indicated a significant influence
#6
weekly sets
no change
any outcome measure
adults 65 years and older
-
no significant influence was detected
#7
age
no change
any outcome measure
adults 65 years and older
-
no significant influence was detected
#8
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on knee extensor muscle hypertrophy in adults 65 years and older. METHODS: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to review randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of supervised RT on 1) muscle size, 2) fiber area, and 3) leg lean mass (LLM). Random-effects meta-analyses of standardized mean difference (SMD) and raw mean difference (RMD) for LLM were calculated. We performed a meta-regression to examine the interference of age, training volume, and duration on the results related to hypertrophy at muscle and fiber levels. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were included in the review, and 28 were meta-analyzed. The meta-analysis found a significant effect of RT on muscle size (SMD = 0.34; 95 % CI: 0.16-0.52; p < 0.001) and fiber area (SMD = 0.54; 95 % CI: 0.24-0.84; p < 0.001), but not on LLM (RMD = 0.22; 95 % CI: -0.22-0.66 p = 0.321). A subanalysis of studies that assessed quadriceps femoris size (excluding isolated quadriceps femoris muscles from the analysis) also revealed a significant effect of RT (95 % CI: 0.20-0.69; p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated a significant influence of intervention duration on type II fiber area (p = 0.034), while no significant influence was detected for weekly sets or age for any outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS: RT promotes muscle hypertrophy in older adults at both whole-muscle and fiber levels, with training duration potentially influencing the response. Measures of leg lean mass may not capture RT-induced adaptation.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedHumansLower ExtremityMuscle StrengthMuscle, SkeletalRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicResistance TrainingSkeletal Muscle Enlargement
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations1
Citations/Year1.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.80
Normalized Score0.72
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