Effects of a 16-week high-speed resistance training program on cellular health and cell integrity in older adults

Abstract

Objective: Aging process includes body composition changes, such as an increase in fat mass and a decrease in fat-free mass. Exercise training programs are considered effective strategies to mitigate or prevent those body composition changes. Therefore, this study analysed the effects of a 16-week High-Speed Resistance Training (HSRT) program on body composition parameters in older adults. Methodology: This non-randomized controlled study, registered on clinicaltrial.gov (NCT05586087), included 79 older adults, who were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG, N=40, age, 68.50 ± 3.54 years) and control group (CG, N=39, age, 72.08 ± 5.89 years). The IG participated in supervised HSRT sessions, three times weekly, with 5–6 exercises, 2–3 sets, and 6–10 repetitions, lasting 60–70 minutes. Intensity was progressively increased considering movement velocity (>1.3 to 0.75 m/s), representing approximately 10% to 65% of one repetition maximum. Exercises were performed rapidly during the concentric phase, monitored via a BEAST™ sensor (Beast Technologies, Brescia, Italy), and controlled during the eccentric phase (2–3 second). The CG maintained daily activities, tracked by the IPAQ Questionnaire. Body composition parameters were assessed using a multifrequency tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody® S10). Results: The analysis showed significant effects of the group factor favouring IG on phase angle (F(1)= 14.39, p< 0.001, η²p= 0.159). Additionally, results from ∆ changes revealed small and medium effects in favour to IG for body cell mass (p= 0.230, dunb= 0.27 [-0.17, 0.71]) and phase angle (p= 0.006, dunb= 0.63 [0.18, 1.08]), respectively. Conclusions: The HSRT could effectively prevent the decline in cellular health and cell integrity in older adults, as evidenced by the significant improvements in the phase angle.