Effects of Upper-Extremity Progressive Resistance Strength Training in Older Adults: The Missing Picture

Age-related decline in muscle strength affects both upper and lower extremities. This decline is associated with late-life onset of physical disability. Although progressive resistance strength training (PRT) has shown promising results in lower-extremity-related physical function, such as walking speed, little is known about the effect on upper-extremity-related physical function. This study reviewed 28 randomized controlled trials published before 2008. Outcomes of upper-extremity muscle strength, hand-grip strength, eye–hand coordination, and physical function were appraised. It is hard to conclude whether or not upper-extremity PRT is beneficial for upper-extremity-related physical function in older adults because the specific effect of upper extremities was often unmeasured, poorly measured with timed tests, or buried in mixed results of upper and lower extremities. Additional research that focuses on examining the effect of upper-extremity PRT is recommended to support the need for a compreh...