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Effects of resistance training, detraining, and retraining on strength and functional capacity in elderly

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Abstract

Background

The interruption of training (detraining) results in loss of the gains acquired. Partial retention could occur after detraining, and variation in training stimuli may optimize retraining adaptations.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of a resistance-retraining program on strength and functional capacity performance after a detraining period.

Methods

Ten elderly men and women (63–68 years) completed 12 weeks of training, 16 weeks of detraining, and 8 weeks of retraining. One-repetition maximum (1-RM) at 45° leg press, maximum isometric knee extension torque, rate of torque development (RTD), 30-s sit-to-stand, timed up and go, and stair ascent and descent tests were assessed.

Results

The 1-RM increased after training (p < 0.01) and remained higher after a detraining period when compared to pre-training (p < 0.01). Post-retraining values were not different from post-training period (p > 0.05). For RTD and 30-s sit-to-stand, there was an increase after retraining when compared to pre-training values (p < 0.05). For timed up and go and stair ascent and descent, reductions were observed between pre-training and post-training periods (p < 0.05), only timed up and go increased after the detraining period (p < 0.01).

Discussion

After 16 weeks of detraining, the maximum strength did not return to baseline levels, and a retraining with explosive strength exercise sessions can recover maximum strength gains, RTD, and functional capacity at the same level obtained after a detraining period.

Conclusions

The inclusion of an explosive strength session in retraining period improves RTD and 30-s sit-to-stand performance and can accelerate the recovery of strength after a detraining period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Biomecânica, Centro de Desportos, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil

    Raphael Luiz Sakugawa, Bruno Monteiro Moura, Lucas Bet da Rosa Orssatto, Ewertton de Souza Bezerra & Fernando Diefenthaeler

  2. Laboratório de Estudo do Desempenho Humano, Faculdade de Educação Física e Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil

    Ewertton de Souza Bezerra

  3. Laboratório de Pesquisa do Exercício, Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Eduardo Lusa Cadore

Authors
  1. Raphael Luiz Sakugawa
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  2. Bruno Monteiro Moura
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  3. Lucas Bet da Rosa Orssatto
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Correspondence to Fernando Diefenthaeler.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the local Human Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 25995714.0.0000.0121), and the protocol was written in accordance with the standards set by the Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Sakugawa, R.L., Moura, B.M., Orssatto, L.B.d.R. et al. Effects of resistance training, detraining, and retraining on strength and functional capacity in elderly. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 31–39 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0970-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0970-5

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