Aging is associated with reduced muscle mass and strength leading to impaired physical function. Resistance training programs incorporated into older adults’ real-life settings may have the potential to counteract these changes. We evaluated the effectiveness of 8 months resistance training using easily available, low cost equipment compared to physical activity counselling on physical function, muscle strength, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care. This open label, two-armed, parallel group, cluster randomized trial recruited older adults above 70 years (median age 86.0 (Interquartile range 80–90) years) receiving home care. Participants were randomized at cluster level to the resistance training group (RTG) or the control group (CG). The RTG trained twice a week while the CG were informed about the national recommendations for physical activity and received a motivational talk every 6th week. Outcomes were assessed at participant level at baseline, after four, and 8 months and included tests of physical function (chair rise, 8 ft-up-and-go, preferred- and maximal gait speed, and stair climb), maximal strength, rate of force development, and body composition. Twelve clusters were allocated to RTG (7 clusters, 60 participants) or CG (5 clusters, 44 participants). The number of participants analyzed was 56–64 (6–7 clusters) in RTG and 20–42 (5 clusters) in CG. After 8 months, multilevel linear mixed models showed that RTG improved in all tests of physical function and maximal leg strength (9–24%, p = 0.01–0.03) compared to CG. No effects were seen for rate of force development or body composition. This study show that resistance training using easily available, low cost equipment is more effective than physical activity counselling for improving physical function and maximal strength in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care. ISRCTN1067873

中文翻译：

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阻力训练计划对接受家庭护理的社区老年人的身体功能、肌肉力量和身体成分的有效性：一项集群随机对照试验。

衰老与肌肉质量和力量减少有关，从而导致身体功能受损。融入老年人现实生活环境的阻力训练计划可能有可能抵消这些变化。我们在社区居住的接受家庭护理的老年人中评估了使用易于获得、低成本的设备进行的 8 个月阻力训练与身体功能、肌肉力量和身体成分的体育活动咨询的有效性。这项开放标签、双臂、平行组、整群随机试验招募了接受家庭护理的 70 岁以上（中位年龄 86.0（四分位间距 80-90）岁）的老年人。参与者在集群级别被随机分配到阻力训练组 (RTG) 或对照组 (CG)。RTG 每周训练两次，而 CG 则被告知国家对体育活动的建议，并每 6 周接受一次励志演讲。结果在基线、4 个月和 8 个月后在参与者水平进行评估，包括身体功能测试（椅子上升、8 英尺起身、首选和最大步态速度以及爬楼梯）、最大力量、速率力量发展和身体成分。12 个集群被分配到 RTG（7 个集群，60 名参与者）或 CG（5 个集群，44 名参与者）。在 RTG 中分析的参与者数量为 56-64（6-7 个集群），在 CG 中为 20-42（5 个集群）。8 个月后，多级线性混合模型显示，与 CG 相比，RTG 在所有身体功能和最大腿部力量测试中都有所改善（9-24%，p = 0.01-0.03）。没有看到对力量发展速度或身体成分的影响。这项研究表明，在社区居住的接受家庭护理的老年人中，使用容易获得、低成本的设备进行阻力训练比身体活动咨询更有效地改善身体功能和最大力量。ISRCTN1067873