Strength training & aging

[Guest guest]

Strength training as a countermeasure to aging muscle and chronic disease.

Sports Med. 2011 Apr 1;41(4):289-306. doi: 10.2165/11585920-000000000-00000.

Hurley BF, Hanson ED, Sheaff AK.

Abstract

Strength training (ST) has long been considered a promising intervention for

reversing the loss of muscle function and the deterioration of muscle structure

associated with advanced age but, until recently, the evidence was insufficient

to support its role in the prevention or treatment of disease. In recent

decades, there has been a long list of quality reviews examining the effects of

ST on functional abilities and a few on risk factors for specific diseases, but

none have provided a comprehensive assessment of ST as an intervention for a

broad range of diseases. This review provides an overview of research addressing

the effectiveness of ST as an intervention for the prevention or treatment of

the adverse consequences of (i) aging muscle; (ii) the metabolic syndrome (MetS)

and its components, i.e. insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, hyperlipidaemia

and hypertension; (iii) fibromyalgia; (iv) rheumatoid arthritis; and (v)

Alzheimer's disease. Collectively, these studies indicate that ST may serve as

an effective countermeasure to some of the adverse consequences of the MetS,

fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Evidence in support of the hypothesis that ST reduces insulin resistance or

improves insulin action comes both from indirect biomarkers, such as

glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), and insulin responses to oral glucose

tolerance tests, as well as from more direct procedures such as hyperglycaemic

and hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp techniques. The evidence for the use of

ST as a countermeasure of abdominal obesity is less convincing. Although some

reports show statistically significant reductions in visceral fat, it is unclear

if the magnitude of these changes are physiologically meaningful and if they are

independent of dietary influences. The efficacy of ST as an intervention for

reducing dyslipidaemia is at best inconsistent, particularly when compared with

other pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, such as aerobic

exercise training.

However, there is more consistent evidence for the effectiveness of ST in

reducing triglyceride levels. This finding could have clinical significance,

given that elevated triglyceride is one of the five criterion measures for the

diagnosis of the MetS. Small to moderate reductions in resting and exercise

blood pressure have been reported with some indication that this effect may be

genotype dependent. ST improves or reverses some of the adverse effects of

fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, particularly pain, inflammation, muscle

weakness and fatigue. Investigations are needed to determine how these effects

compare with those elicited from aerobic exercise training and/or standard

treatments.

There is no evidence that ST can reverse any of the major biological or

behavioural outcomes of Alzheimer's disease, but there is evidence that the

prevalence of this disease is inversely associated with muscle mass and

strength. Some indicators of cognitive function may also improve with ST. Thus,

ST is an effective countermeasure for some of the adverse effects experienced by

patients of many chronic diseases, as discussed in this review.

===============

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK

[Guest guest]

If I can offer some anecdotal evidence:

4 years ago, I was about to have major back surgery -- it was due the end of

July.

I was over 315 lbs., had hypertension and high cholesterol (280-something)

triglycerides (over 200), and a 46 " waist. I was 53.

11 months after the surgery, the doctor let me go back to the gym.

2 years after that, I walked onstage in the Over 50 division of the L.A.

Bodybuilding Championships, at 206 lbs. and 7% bodyfat. Belly fat was

near-nonexistent, but I still have/had " flaps " of leftover skin that have

refused all efforts to make them tighten up. My resting BP was and is

112/58 at a resting pulse of 54. My cholesterol is 112 (HDL of 57), and my

triglycerides 74.

I'm currently 242 lbs., about 14% bf, have SOME visible belly fat, but not a

lot (and the excess skin, dammit), and at last blood work last month, the

numbers were very nearly the same -- cholesterol had gone UP to 114 (but HDL

up to 59), and the triglycerides 72.

All from strength training and dietary changes.

Jim

Berea, KY

On Sat, Jul 16, 2011 at 8:10 AM, carruthersjam <Carruthersjam@...>wrote:

> **

>

>

> Strength training as a countermeasure to aging muscle and chronic disease.

>

> Sports Med. 2011 Apr 1;41(4):289-306. doi:

> 10.2165/11585920-000000000-00000.

> Hurley BF, Hanson ED, Sheaff AK.

>

> Abstract

> Strength training (ST) has long been considered a promising intervention

> for reversing the loss of muscle function and the deterioration of muscle

> structure associated with advanced age but, until recently, the evidence was

> insufficient to support its role in the prevention or treatment of disease.

> In recent decades, there has been a long list of quality reviews examining

> the effects of ST on functional abilities and a few on risk factors for

> specific diseases, but none have provided a comprehensive assessment of ST

> as an intervention for a broad range of diseases. This review provides an

> overview of research addressing the effectiveness of ST as an intervention

> for the prevention or treatment of the adverse consequences of (i) aging

> muscle; (ii) the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, i.e. insulin

> resistance, abdominal obesity, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension; (iii)

> fibromyalgia; (iv) rheumatoid arthritis; and (v) Alzheimer's disease.

> Collectively, these studies indicate that ST may serve as an effective

> countermeasure to some of the adverse consequences of the MetS, fibromyalgia

> and rheumatoid arthritis.

>

> Evidence in support of the hypothesis that ST reduces insulin resistance or

> improves insulin action comes both from indirect biomarkers, such as

> glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), and insulin responses to oral glucose

> tolerance tests, as well as from more direct procedures such as

> hyperglycaemic and hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp techniques. The

> evidence for the use of ST as a countermeasure of abdominal obesity is less

> convincing. Although some reports show statistically significant reductions

> in visceral fat, it is unclear if the magnitude of these changes are

> physiologically meaningful and if they are independent of dietary

> influences. The efficacy of ST as an intervention for reducing dyslipidaemia

> is at best inconsistent, particularly when compared with other

> pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, such as aerobic

> exercise training.

>

> However, there is more consistent evidence for the effectiveness of ST in

> reducing triglyceride levels. This finding could have clinical significance,

> given that elevated triglyceride is one of the five criterion measures for

> the diagnosis of the MetS. Small to moderate reductions in resting and

> exercise blood pressure have been reported with some indication that this

> effect may be genotype dependent. ST improves or reverses some of the

> adverse effects of fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, particularly pain,

> inflammation, muscle weakness and fatigue. Investigations are needed to

> determine how these effects compare with those elicited from aerobic

> exercise training and/or standard treatments.

>

> There is no evidence that ST can reverse any of the major biological or

> behavioural outcomes of Alzheimer's disease, but there is evidence that the

> prevalence of this disease is inversely associated with muscle mass and

> strength. Some indicators of cognitive function may also improve with ST.

> Thus, ST is an effective countermeasure for some of the adverse effects

> experienced by patients of many chronic diseases, as discussed in this

> review.

>

> ===============

> Carruthers

> Wakefield, UK

>

>

>