Eccentric Resistance Exercise Effects on Older Adults With Metabolic Syndrome
This nonrandomized pilot study explored how whole-body eccentric resistance exercise training (ECC-RT) would change physical fitness and health parameters of older adults with metabolic syndrome symptoms. We hypothesized that ECC-RT would effectively improve neuromuscular and cardio-metabolic parameters. Six men and 11 women aged between 62 and 79 (70.0 ± 5.0) years with body mass index >25 kg · m−2, dyslipidemia, and some indications of metabolic syndrome participated in this study. All performed 8 ECC-RT exercises of the major muscle groups twice a week for 8 weeks with a gradual increase in intensity from 10% to 100% of their maximal concentric strength assessed by 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) for each exercise. Before and after the training intervention, 1-RM strength of all exercises, physical function tests, sensory organization test (SOT) for balance, body composition, and some cardio-metabolic blood markers were measured. All participants completed 16 training sessions without any injuries or adverse effects. The concentric 1-RM strength increased (P < 0.05) for all exercises from baseline by 34.1% ± 13.8% (lateral pulldown) to 115.8% ± 108.7% (calf raise). Significant (P < 0.05) improvement of 400-m walk (12.8% ± 6.7%), repeated chair rise (18.6% ± 16.4%), timed up and go (13.6% ± 6.0%), and vestibular (26.1% ± 37.9%) and total score (6.5% ± 8.3%) in SOT were evident, although large variations in responses were observed among participants. However, no significant changes in body composition and blood markers were found. The ECC-RT was tolerable for all participants and was effective for improving muscle strength and some physical function tests, but did not affect the metabolic syndrome parameters, possibly because of the short intervention period and small sample size.Background
Methods
Results
Conclusion
Recruitment flowchart.
Changes in training intensity relative to concentric 1-repetition maximum (1RM), the repetition number for each exercise, the total volume of 8 exercises, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) immediately after training over 16 training sessions (mean ± SD of 17 participants).
Changes in 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength from baseline (Pre) to posttraining (Post) of individual participants (N = 17) for chest press (a), lateral pulldown (b), leg curl (c), leg extension (d), calf raise (e), triceps extension (f), bicep curl (g), and abdominal crunch (h). Mean ± SD values of 17 participants for Pre and Post training of each exercise are shown in each figure, and the magnitude of the change from baseline to posttraining is shown in the rectangular frame. * Indicates significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) from the baseline value.
Changes in 400-m walking time (a), 30-s repeated chair rise (b), timed up and go (c), vestibular (d) in the sensory organization test, and total (e) sensory organization test score of individual participants (N = 17) from baseline (Pre) to posttraining (Post). Mean ± SD values of 17 participants at Pre and Post for each test are shown in each figure, and the magnitude of the change from Pre to Post is shown in the rectangular frame. * Indicates significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) from baseline.
Changes in total cholesterol (a), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (b), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (c), triglyceride (d), glucose (e), insulin (f), and fructosamine (g) concentrations in the blood and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (h) of individual participants (N = 17) from baseline (Pre) and posttraining (Post). Mean ± SD values of 17 participants at baseline and posttraining for each measure are shown in each figure, and the magnitude of the change from Pre to Post training is shown in the rectangular frame.
Contributor Notes
Conflict of interest and source of funding: The authors declare no conflict of interest with other external parties and no external financial funding was involved in this study.