| The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 12-week high-velocity resistance training (HVRT) protocol to a traditional low-velocity resistance training (LVRT) protocol on resting metabolic rate (RMR) and other selected measures of muscular and functional fitness in older adults. Nineteen adults between the ages of 65 and 82 participated: 8 HVRT, 7 LVRT, and 4 controls (CTRL). Initially, no differences existed between groups except for age ( p = .016). HVRT (75.6 years) was older than LVRT (69.6 years) and CTRL (69.3 years). The exercise intervention consisted of 2 days/week sessions for 12 weeks at 3 sets of 10 repetitions progressing to 80% 1RM for leg press, leg curl, leg extension, upper back, chest press, and shoulder press on Keiser pneumatic resistance machines. CTRL participants walked throughout the 12 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention strength, power (leg extension at 180°/sec), RMR, body composition, and functional fitness (30-sec chair stand and 8-ft up-and-go) were measured. Data were analyzed by a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and effect sizes. All groups decreased RMR: LVRT by 11.4%, HVRT 15.6%, and CTRL 31.1% (p = .039 between groups). While CTRL lost 5.3% of FFM, HVRT increased 0.7% and LVRT 3.1% (p = .012). All groups increased in power but were not significantly different: CTRL by 3.0%, LVRT 8.7%, and HVRT 11.7% (p = .830). For total lower body strength, CTRL increased by 5.6%, LVRT by 42.3%, and HVRT by 44.6% (p = .016). No significant interaction between time and group was found for chair stand (p = .739) or up-and-go (p = .283). Overall, this study indicates LVRT and HVRT over a 12-week period at 80% 1RM produce similar changes in RMR, FFM, strength, and power. |
