| The purpose of this research study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week high velocity resistance training program in functionally limited older adults on measures of function and working memory. Twenty two older adults over the age of 70 were recruited for the experimental group, and seven for the control. The exercise program consisted of 12 weeks of high velocity training two times per week with exercises consisting of standing hip flexion, standing hip extension, chair stands, and calf raises. Progressive overload throughout the program was established by increasing the number of repetitions every week and then incorporating ankle weights in the last six weeks of the program. Participants in the control group were told not to exercise during the program, and to continue their normal lifestyle. All participants in the exercise group were measured at three separate time points (pre-intervention, mid-intervention, and post-intervention) on measures of dynamic balance, maximal walking speed, 8-foot up-and-go, chair stand, and working memory. Data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance and a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results for the multivariate analysis of variance indicated that significant differences existed between the groups, Λ = .77, F (3, 25) = 2.45, p = .09, and 23% of the variance was accounted for between the two groups. Follow up analysis compared differences on the three dependent variables and revealed that there were no significant differences between the groups; maximal walking speed, F (1, 27) = 1.14, p = .29, 8-foot up-and-go, F (1, 27) = .64, p = .43, chair stand, F (1, 27) = 1.76, p = .19. Results for the one-way repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that there were no time effects present for dynamic balance, Λ = .96, F (2, 20) = .46, p = .64, maximal walking speed, F (2, 42) = .31, p = .73, 8-foot up-and-go, F (2, 42) = .19, p = .83, and working memory, F (2, 42) = l .29, p = .29. A time effect did occur for the chair stand variable, F (2, 42) = 19.52, p < .01, suggesting that high velocity training was effective on increasing the participant's ability to stand from a chair. Each of these variables had small to medium effect sizes. Additional analyses were performed to see if working memory differed between the exercise and control groups, and if balance decreased over time in the control group. No statistical differences existed in the two separate analyses, t (27) = 1.19, p = .25, and t (5) = -.85, p = .43, respectively. The results from this study show that high velocity training can improve selected measures of functional fitness, but no differences were found for cognitive function. |
