Effects of Resistance Training Volume on Physical Function, Lean Body Mass and Lower-Body Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of 151 Randomised Trials.

Background: The optimal prescription and precise recommendations of resistance training volume for older adults is unclear in the current literature. In addition, the interactions between resistance training volume and program duration as well as physical health status remain to be determined when assessing physical function, muscle size and hypertrophy and muscle strength adaptations in older adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine which resistance training volume is the most effective in improving physical function, lean body mass, lower-limb muscle hypertrophy and strength in older adults. Additionally, we examined whether effects were moderated by intervention duration (i.e. short term, < 20 weeks; medium-to-long term, ≥ 20 weeks) and physical health status (i.e. physically healthy, physically impaired, mixed physically healthy and physically impaired; PROSPERO identifier: CRD42023413209).

Methods: CINAHL, Embase, LILACS, PubMed, Scielo, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science databases were searched up to April 2023. Eligible randomised trials examined the effects of supervised resistance training in older adults (i.e. ≥ 60 years). Resistance training programs were categorised as low (LVRT), moderate (MVRT) and high volume (HVRT) on the basis of terciles of prescribed weekly resistance training volume (i.e. product of frequency, number of exercises and number of sets) for full- and lower-body training. The primary outcomes for this review were physical function measured by fast walking speed, timed up and go and 6-min walking tests; lean body mass and lower-body muscle hypertrophy; and lower-body muscle strength measured by knee extension and leg press one-repetition maximum (1-RM), isometric muscle strength and isokinetic torque. A random-effects network meta-analysis was undertaken to examine the effects of different resistance training volumes on the outcomes of interest.

Results: We included a total of 161 articles describing 151 trials (n = 6306). LVRT was the most effective for improving timed up and go [- 1.20 standardised mean difference (SMD), 95% confidence interval (95% CI): - 1.57 to - 0.82], 6-min walk test (1.03 SMD, 95% CI: 0.33-1.73), lean body mass (0.25 SMD, 95% CI: 0.10-0.40) and muscle hypertrophy (0.40 SMD, 95% CI: 0.25-0.54). Both MVRT and HVRT were the most effective for improving lower-limb strength, while only HVRT was effective in increasing fast walking speed (0.40 SMD, 95% CI: - 0.57 to 0.14). Regarding the moderators, our results were independent of program duration and mainly observed for healthy older adults, while evidence was limited for those who were physically impaired.

Conclusions: A low resistance training volume can substantially improve healthy older adults' physical function and benefits lean mass and muscle size independently of program duration, while a higher volume seems to be necessary for achieving greater improvements in muscle strength. A low volume of resistance training should be recommended in future exercise guidelines, particularly for physically healthy older adults targeting healthy ageing.