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Nelson H Carneiro,1,2 Alex S Ribeiro,1 Matheus A Nascimento,1 Luís A Gobbo,3 Brad J Schoenfeld,4 Abdallah Achour Júnior,1 Sebastião Gobbi,5 Arli R Oliveira,1 Edilson S Cyrino1 1Study and Research Group in Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise, Physical Education Department, Londrina State University, Londrina, 2Physical Education Department, Oeste Paulista University, Presidente Prudente, 3Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Faculdade de Ciência e Tecnologia/Departamento de Educação Física, Presidente Prudente, Brazil; 4Exercise Science Department, The City University of New York Lehman College, Bronx, New York, USA; 5Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Institudo de Biociências/Departamento de Educação Física, Laboratory of Aging and Physical Activity (LAFE), Rio Carlo, São Paulo, Brazil Objective: The main purpose of the investigation reported here was to analyze the effect of resistance training (RT) performed at different weekly frequencies on flexibility in older women.Participants and methods: Fifty-three older women (≥60 years old) were randomly assigned to perform RT either two (n=28; group “G2x”), or three (n=25; group “G3x”) times per week. The RT program comprised eight exercises in which the participants performed one set of 10–15 repetitions maximum for a period of 12 weeks. Anthropometric, body-composition, and flexibility measurements were made at baseline and post-study. The flexibility measurements were obtained by a fleximeter.Results: A significant group-by-time interaction (P

Abstract: Dos Santos, VR, Antunes, M, dos Santos, L, Nascimento, MA, Pina, FLC, Carneiro, NH, Trindade, MCC, Venturini, D, Barbosa, DS, and Cyrino, ES. Effects of different resistance training frequencies on body composition, muscular strength, muscle quality, and metabolic biomarkers in sarcopenic older women. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): e521-e528, 2024-Resistance training (RT) can ameliorate outcomes related to sarcopenia by promoting beneficial changes in muscular strength, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and muscle quality. This study compared the effects of 12 weeks of RT performed 2 and 3 sessions a week on body composition, muscular strength, muscle quality, and metabolic biomarkers in sarcopenic older women. Thirty-four sarcopenic older women (>60 years) were randomly assigned to perform a whole-body RT program, either 2 (G2X, n = 18) or 3 (G3X, n = 16) sessions a week during 12 weeks (8 exercises, single set of 10-15 repetitions). Body composition, muscular strength, muscle quality, and metabolic biomarkers were assessed before and after the intervention. Both groups increased (p < 0.05) 1 repetition maximum total muscular strength (G2X = +20.4% and G3X = +21.0%), SMM (G2X = +4.0% and G3X = +7.0%), and improved muscle quality (G2X = +16.7% and G3X = +13.6%), with no differences between groups (p > 0.05). No change over time was found for IGF-1 and testosterone (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that 12 weeks of RT performed at a lower weekly frequency is as effective as a higher frequency in improving muscular strength, SMM, and muscle quality in sarcopenic older women., (Copyright © 2024 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Abstract: Amarante do Nascimento, M, Nunes, JPA, Pina, FLC, Ribeiro, AS, Carneiro, NH, Venturini, D, Barbosa, DS, Mayhew, JL, and Cyrino, ES. Comparison of 2 weekly frequencies of resistance training on muscular strength, body composition, and metabolic biomarkers in resistance-trained older women: Effects of detraining and retraining. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1437-1444, 2022-This study aimed to compare the effects of 2 weekly frequencies of resistance training (RT) on muscular strength, body composition, and metabolic biomarkers in previously resistance-trained older women after detraining and retraining. Forty subjects (>60 years) performed RT (8 exercises, 1 set of 10-15 repetitions maximum) 2 (G2x) or 3 (G3x) times per week over 12 weeks of training and retraining. After training, subjects were detrained for 12 weeks. After detraining, there were significant decreases (p < 0.05) in upper-body (∼12%) and lower-body (∼14%) muscular strength, fat-free mass (FFM) (∼2%), and testosterone (∼26%), whereas increases were revealed for fat mass (FM) (∼4%), relative body fat (∼3%), fasting glucose (∼8%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (∼21%), and triglycerides (∼24%), with no differences between groups (p > 0.05). Following retraining, there were significant increases (p < 0.05) for upper (∼7%) and lower (∼10%) muscular strength, FFM (∼2%), and testosterone (∼20%). In contrast, decreases were found for FM (∼7%), relative body fat (∼3%), fasting glucose (∼6%), LDL-C (∼14%), and triglycerides (∼21%), also with no differences between groups (p > 0.05). Gains after retraining were lower than after training (p < 0.05) only for upper- and lower-body muscular strength (∼6%) and testosterone (∼11%). Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, IGF-1, and C-reactive protein did not change at any point in the study for either group (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that older women can regain previous RT program benefits following detraining, regardless of the weekly training frequency. However, some fitness components may take longer to reestablish than the initial training level., (Copyright © 2020 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Background: Many factors may influence the magnitude of individual responses to resistance training (RT). How the manipulation of training volume and frequency affects responsiveness level for muscle mass gain in older women has not been investigated., Aims: This study had the objective of identifying responders (RP) and non-responders (N-RP) older women for skeletal muscle mass (SMM) gain from a 12-week resistance training (RT) program. Additionally, we analyzed whether the N-RP could gain SMM with an increase in weekly training volume over 12 additional weeks of training., Methods: Thirty-nine older women (aged ≥ 60 years) completed 24 weeks of a whole-body RT intervention (eight exercises, 2-3×/week, 1-2 sets of 10-15 repetitions). SMM was estimated by DXA, and the responsive cut-off value was set at two times the standard error of measurement. Participants were considered as RP if they exceeded the cut-off value after a 12-week RT phase, while the N-RP were those who failed to reach the SMM cut-off., Results: Of the 22 participants considered to be N-RP, only 3 accumulated SMM gains (P = 0.250) that exceeded the cut-off point for responsiveness following 12 additional weeks of training, while 19 maintained or presented negative SMM changes. Of the 17 participants considered to be RP, all continued to gain SMM after the second 12-week RT phase. No significant correlation was observed between the changes in SMM and any baseline aspect of the participants., Conclusions: Our results suggest that some older women are RP, while others are N-RP to SMM gains resulting from RT. Furthermore, the non-responsiveness condition was not altered by an increase of training volume and intervention duration while RP participants continue to increase SMM; it appears that RP continue to be RP, and N-RP continue to be N-RP.

Pina, FLC, Nunes, JP, Schoenfeld, BJ, Nascimento, MA, Gerage, AM, Januário, RSB, Carneiro, NH, Cyrino, ES, and Oliveira, AR. Effects of different weekly sets-equated resistance training frequencies on muscular strength, muscle mass and body fat in older women. J Strength Cond Res 34(10): 2990-2995, 2020-The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different resistance training (RT) frequencies (2 vs. 3 times per week) with an equivalent number of weekly sets performed between conditions on muscular strength and body composition in older women. Forty-seven older women (65 ± 4 years) were divided into 2 groups that performed a 12-week RT program either 2 (G2x and 3 sets) or 3 (G3x and 2 sets) times per week. The groups were evaluated before and after study on measures of body composition through dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and muscular strength through one repetition maximum (1RM) testing. Lean soft tissue was significantly increased in both groups (G2x = +1.7%, G3x = +1.7%), while only G3x reduced body fat after the intervention period (G2x = -0.7%, G3x = -2.9%). Similarly, significant increases were noted between conditions for 1RM scores in bench press (G2x = +11.8%, G3x = +11.9%) and knee extension (G2x = +17.4%, G3x = +10.8%). The results indicate that performing 2 or 3 RT sessions per week promotes similar improvements in muscular outcomes, while training more frequently may reduce body fat after 12 weeks of weekly sets-equated RT in untrained older women.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 24-week resistance-training (RT) program performed 2 vs. 3 times per week on body fat and metabolic health markers in older women., Methods: Thirty-nine women (≥60 years old) were randomly assigned to two groups according to RT frequency (G2x=two sessions per week, N.=19; and G3x=three sessions per week, N.=20) and were submitted to two 12-week stages of whole-body RT. In the first stage, participants performed 1 set of 10 to 15 repetitions in each of eight exercises, whereas in the second stage, they performed 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions. Body fat was estimated by DXA, while biochemical analyses were performed on venous blood samples collected in the morning hours after a 12 hours' fasting and after a minimum of 48 hours since the last physical exercise session., Results: After the 24 weeks of RT, only G3x significantly reduced body fat mass (G2x=0.0%; G3x=-5.1%), whereas both G2x and G3x reduced blood glucose and C-reactive protein levels. Both groups improved HDL-C after the first 12-week stage compared to baseline, although the changes from pre- to post-training were not significantly different between groups. No significant difference was observed compared to baseline for total cholesterol, VLDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides for either group., Conclusions: These results suggest that RT-induced changes in health markers may occur regardless of RT frequency, whereas performing RT three times per week may be needed for reducing total body fat mass in older women.

Aim: to analyze the association between physical frailty and the results of fitness capacity exams for driving vehicles among elder Brazilians., Methods: this is a cross sectional study, performed in traffic medicine clinics of the city of Curitiba (Brazil). The data was collected through the physical frailty tests, the use of a structured questionnaire, and searches on the records of the Brazilian National Register of Qualified Drivers.To analyze the information, the authors used descriptive statistics and non-parametrical tests., Results: One hundred seventy two elderly people, of whom 56.4% pre-fragile and 43.6% non-fragile. 25.0% were considered fit for driving, 68.6% were considered fit, but with some restrictions, and 6.4% were placed as temporarily unfit for driving. There was no association between frailty condition and the final results for driving fitness ( p = 0.8934). Physical frailty was significantly associated to the restrictions observed for those who were fit under restrictions ( p = 0.0313), according to the weekly amount of kilometers traveled ( p = 0.0222), and to car accidents occurred after the age of 60 ( p = 0.0165)., Conclusion: Physical frailty was significantly associated to the restrictions related to driving, reason to which makes important to manage frailty over this group of drivers. However, no association observed between physical frailty and the final result for driving vehicles.

Objective: to investigate the association between physical frailty and quality of life in elderly users of primary health care in the capital of the state of Paraná., Method: a cross-sectional, quantitative study with 203 elders. Data collected included: physical activity questionnaires, weight loss, fatigue/exhaustion, quality of life, performance of gait speed tests, and handgrip strength., Results: of the 203 older adults, 115 were pre-frail, 49 were non-frail, and 39 were frail, with a significant association with functional capacity and quality of life in all groups. The dimensions resulting from physical aspects, pain, and vitality were associated with those that were non-frail., Conclusion: in this study, frailty syndrome was inversely proportional to the quality of life, and significantly associated with functional capacity of older adults. Physical frailty is a manageable condition which can be targeted through geriatric nursing interventions.

Objective: To investigate the association between handgrip strength (HS) and physical activity in physical frailty elderly., Method: Cross-sectional quantitative study with a sample of 203 elderly calculated based on the population estimated proportion. Tests were applied to detect cognitive impairment and assessment of physical frailty. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression were used, and also Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test., Results: A total of 99 (64.3%) elderly showed decreased handgrip strength and 90 (58.4%) elderly presented decrease in physical activity levels. There was a statistically significant difference between these two components (p=0.019), in which elderly who have decreased HS have lower levels of physical activity. For low levels of physical activity and decreased HS, there was no evidence of significant difference in the probability of the classification as frail elderly (p<0.001)., Conclusion: The components handgrip strength and physical activity are associated with the frail elderly. The joint presence of low levels of physical activity and decreased handgrip strength leads to a significantly higher probability of the elderly to be categorized as frailty.

Objective: to investigate the association between gait speed and the cognitive score of elderly patients enrolled in a Basic Health Unit., Method: a quantitative cross-sectional study with 203 elderly, a sample calculated based on the estimated population proportion. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, gait speed test (GS) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)., Results: the illiterate patients had a mean MMSE=19.33(±3.7) and GS = 0.76m/s (±0.3); those with low/medium education had a MMSE = 25.43(±2.8) and GS = 0.92m/s (±0.2); and the elderly with higher education had a MMSE = 27.33(±2.9) and GS=1.12m/s (±0.3).There was a weak correlation (R2=00354) between gait speed and cognitive score, with statistical significance (Prob>F = 0.0072) and a positive linear trend., Conclusion: the better cognitive score the higher the gait speed; the illiterate elderly were those with lower gait speed, thereby indicating a poorer physical performance.

Objective: to investigate pre-frailty and the factors associated with this condition, taking into account the measurements of the older adults' gait speed., Method: participants were selected by means of inclusion/exclusion criteria and a cognitive tracking test. The sample was calculated based on the estimation of populational proportion and made up of 195 older adults who were using a Primary Health-Care Center in Curitiba in the state of Paraná. Data was collected using a socio-demographic/clinical questionnaire and the gait speed test., Results: pre-frailty for gait speed has moderate prevalence (27.3%), and is associated with the 60 - 69 years age range, a low level of schooling, not feeling oneself to be alone, using anti-hypertensives, having cardiovascular disease and being overweight., Conclusion: it is considered relevant to identify those older adults with pre-frailty, as this creates the possibility for immediate intervention with the aim of stabilizing the picture. There is a significant shortage of studies on the syndrome of frailty in Brazilian older adults, principally referring to components in isolation. Given that gerontological nursing is at an early stage regarding this issue, it is understood that the identification of the prevalence must be the key point of the research on the matter.