What were we trying to do?

The strength component of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines (CMO PAG) lacks the detail that is present for aerobic activities.  As part of another project we have found that this has led to a serious misunderstanding amongst older adults as to the strength training dose required to obtain improvements in strength, health, well-being, and longevity.

 

This quantitative study investigated whether older adults are building strength with the governmental guidance to ‘build strength on at least two days per week.’

 

Why was this important?

Several age-associated disabilities, conditions, and diseases are related to a preventable loss in muscle strength.  One such age-associated syndrome is frailty, a condition phenotypically associated with a loss of muscle strength (weakness).  Half of people over the age of 65 have some form of frailty.  People with frailty also present with increased risk of balance issues, repeat falls, mental and cognitive decline, a loss of independence and face an inevitable placement in a long-term care facility and early death.  Frailty has the capacity to place momentous emotional and physical stress and financial burden on older adults and their families.  

 

Several recent systematic reviews have definitively shown that strength training programs efficiently and substantially increase muscle strength in older adults.  

 

How did we do it?

We measured upper and lower body muscular strength in older adults before and after six months of following the guidance available in the CMO PAG. We then explored and developed a deeper conceptual understanding from our participants of the enablers, motivators, and barriers to using the governmental guidelines to plan, execute, and maintain their own strength training programs.

 

 

More information

 

 

 

Programme Manager
Alison Littlewood
alison.j.littlewood@manchester.ac.uk