| HOME | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Division of Physical Therapy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
2 Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona, Tucson.
3 Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.
4 Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Background. The objective of this study was to determine if a chronic eccentric training intervention, i.e., negative work, could limit or even reverse sarcopenia and its related impairments and functional limitations. Is high-force eccentric training tolerable by elderly people and will it result in improved muscle size, strength, balance, and fall risk?
Methods. 21 frail elderly subjects (mean age, 80 years) experienced 11 weeks of lower extremity resistance training. The experimental eccentric (ECC) group (
) performed negative work while exercising on a high-force eccentric ergometer. The active "controls" performed traditional (TRAD) (
) lower extremity resistance exercises (weight training). Muscle fiber cross-sectional area and strength, balance, stair descending abilities, and fall risk were assessed prior to and following this intervention.
Results. All ECC subjects who started the negative work intervention completed the study and reported the training to be relatively effortless; they experienced minimal and transient muscle soreness. Both groups experienced a significant increase in muscle fiber cross-sectional area (
, 
). Only the ECC group experienced significant improvements in strength (60%), balance (7%), and stair descent (21%) abilities. The timed up and go task improved in both groups, but only the ECC group went from a high to a low fall risk.
Conclusions. These data demonstrate that lower extremity resistance exercise can improve muscle structure and function in those with limited exercise tolerance. The greater strength increase following negative work training resulted in improved balance, stair descent, and fall risk only in the ECC group. Because low energy cost is coupled to high force production with eccentric exercise, this intervention may be useful for a number of patients that are otherwise unable to achieve high muscle forces with traditional resistance exercise.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  J P. Gerber, R. L Marcus, L. E Dibble, P. E Greis, R. T Burks, and P. C LaStayo Effects of Early Progressive Eccentric Exercise on Muscle Size and Function After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A 1-Year Follow-up Study of a Randomized Clinical Trial Physical Therapy, January 1, 2009; 89(1): 51 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L Marcus, S. Smith, G. Morrell, O. Addison, L. E Dibble, D. Wahoff-Stice, and P. C LaStayo Comparison of Combined Aerobic and High-Force Eccentric Resistance Exercise With Aerobic Exercise Only for People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Physical Therapy, November 1, 2008; 88(11): 1345 - 1354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. P. Gerber, R. L. Marcus, L. E. Dibble, P. E. Greis, R. T. Burks, and P. C. LaStayo Effects of Early Progressive Eccentric Exercise on Muscle Structure After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., March 1, 2007; 89(3): 559 - 570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. F. Vallejo, E. T. Schroeder, L. Zheng, N. E. Jensky, and F. R. Sattler Cardiopulmonary responses to eccentric and concentric resistance exercise in older adults. Age Ageing, May 1, 2006; 35(3): 291 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
