The effect of resistance training on the body composition and muscle functions of healthy elderly men

Objective: To investigate the effect of resistance training on the body composition and muscle functions of healthy elderly men. Methods: A total of 113 healthy elderly men were enrolled in the study and were assigned to two groups based on the intervention method. Group A maintained the previous lifestyle, while group B did resistance exercises. The changes in the body composition indices such as waistline, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and basal metabolic rate, as well as skeletal muscle content, bone mineral density, upper and lower limb muscle strength, and muscle endurance, balancing ability, and walking ability were compared between the two groups. Results: After the intervention, group B showed smaller waistlines and lower BMI, lower body fat percentages and higher basal metabolic rates than group A (P<0.05). Compared with the pre-intervention levels, the skeletal muscle content was increased in group B (P<0.05), but the change was not significant in group A (P>0.05), and the BUA, T-values, and Z-values were all increased in group B (P<0.05), but the change was not significant in group A (P>0.05). After the intervention, the 30-ACT and 30-CST levels in group B were higher than they were in group A (P<0.05). After the intervention, group B showed longer standing times in the eye-closed single-leg stance test, farther reaching distances in the functional reach test, and shorter times in the 2.4-meter timed up and go tests than group A (P<0.05). Compared with the pre-intervention values, the walking distance in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was increased in group B after the intervention (P<0.05), but the change was not significant in group A (P>0.05). Conclusions: Resistance training is conducive to improving body composition and bone mineral density as well as the muscle strength and the muscle endurance of the upper and lower limbs and the balance fitness of healthy elderly men.