ECCENTRIC RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR OLDER ADULTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS

Introduction: resistance training is used to delay or mitigate the deleterious effects of aging. Eccentrically enhanced resistance training has gained notoriety for its beneficial results in adults. However, evidence on the effects of inertial training in the elderly is limited. Objective: to conduct a narrative review of the scientific literature to describe the possibilities and limitations of eccentric resistance training for the elderly. Materials and methods: no specific search methods were used, only studies related to the research topic. Databases used included PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Google Scholar, with no date restrictions. Results: compared to isometric and concentric actions, eccentric actions are characterized by generating higher levels of force with lower muscle activation, metabolic cost, and subjective perception of effort, preferential recruitment of fast-twitch fibers (type IIx), greater hypertrophic effect, cross-education, cortical activity, and the potential for delayed onset muscle soreness. Conclusion: inertial training appears to be effective and suitable for maintaining physical function and reducing the number of falls in the elderly. However, devices developed for this type of training do not yet appear to be fully adapted for the elderly, which may constitute limitations for the use of eccentric strength training in the elderly.