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Gait speed response to aerobic versus resistance exercise training in older adults

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the comparative effect of aerobic training (AT) versus resistance training (RT) on gait speed, a strong predictor of disability.

Aims

To compare the effect of AT versus RT on gait speed and other functional measures.

Methods

Overweight and obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥27.0 kg/m2] sedentary men and women aged 65–79 years engaged in 5 months of either 4 days/weeks moderate-intensity treadmill walking, AT, (n = 44) or 3 days/weeks moderate-intensity RT (n = 56). Usual-pace gait speed, fast-pace gait speed and short physical performance battery (SPPB) were evaluated in all participants before and after training. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) was assessed in AT participants only, and knee extensor strength was assessed in RT participants.

Results

Both AT and RT resulted in clinically significant improvements in usual-pace gait speed (0.08 ± 0.14 and 0.08 ± 0.17 m/s, respectively, both p < 0.05) and SPPB (0.53 ± 1.40 and 0.53 ± 1.20 points, both p < 0.05) and chair rise time (−1.2 ± 3.2 and −1.7 ± 3.0 s, p < 0.05). Only AT improved fast-pace gait speed (0.11 ± 0.10 m/s, p < 0.05). In the RT participants, lower baseline knee strength was associated with less improvement in usual-pace gait speed. In AT participants, lower baseline VO2peak was associated with less improvement in chair rise time and self-reported disability.

Discussion

While both AT and RT improved usual-pace gait speed, only AT improved fast-pace gait speed. Lower baseline fitness was associated with less improvement with training.

Conclusion

Research to directly compare which mode of training elicits the maximum improvement in older individuals with specific functional deficits could lead to better intervention targeting.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by Grant R01HL093713 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Grant R01AG020583 from the National Institute on Aging awarded to Dr. Nicklas and by the Wake Forest University Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (P30AG21332).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Rebecca M. Henderson, Elizabeth A. Chmelo, Tina E. Brinkley, Mary F. Lyles & Barbara J. Nicklas

  2. Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    X. Iris Leng

  3. Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA

    Anthony P. Marsh

Authors
  1. Rebecca M. Henderson
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  2. X. Iris Leng
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  3. Elizabeth A. Chmelo
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  4. Tina E. Brinkley
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  7. Barbara J. Nicklas
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Correspondence to Rebecca M. Henderson.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the Rebecca M. Henderson states that there is no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the standards of the ethic committee of the local university and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individuals prior to participating in the study.

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Henderson, R.M., Leng, X.I., Chmelo, E.A. et al. Gait speed response to aerobic versus resistance exercise training in older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 29, 969–976 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-016-0632-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-016-0632-4

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