Strength training response in older adults varies widely
In short
After 12 months of multicomponent training, 46% of 288 older adults were high responders for knee extension strength and 27% for grip. Higher resistance training adherence was associated with high responses across several outcomes, without proving causation.
Only 46% were high responders for knee extension strength after 12 months; for grip, the share was 27%. A shared program duration did not produce a uniform result. An improved group average cannot tell an individual how much progress they made.
How much improvement counts as a high response?
The threshold was the smallest worthwhile change: 0.2 × the baseline standard deviation of the outcome. A participant's change had to exceed that threshold. This is not a 20% improvement requirement, and falling below it does not automatically mean there was no benefit. The table separates the individual classification from statistical change in the group mean.
| Outcome | High responders | Significant mean improvement? |
|---|---|---|
| Grip strength | 27% | Yes, p ＜ 0.01 |
| Knee extension strength | 46% | Yes, p ＜ 0.01 |
| Walking speed | 30% | Yes, p ＜ 0.01 |
| Walking distance | 44% | Yes, p ＜ 0.01 |
| Appendicular lean mass | 17% | No |
Who responded highly across several outcomes?
Overall, 46% had high responses in 2–5 outcomes. Associated odds ratios were 2.60 for multimorbidity (95% CI 1.47–4.59), 0.90 for age (0.84–0.96), 0.94 for BMI (0.88–0.99), and 1.03 for resistance training adherence (1.01–1.04). Younger age, lower BMI and higher adherence were associated with higher odds of this classification. The abstract does not specify increment units, so these figures should not be converted into effects per year or per adherence percentage point.
Having multiple conditions was also associated with higher odds. More room to improve is one possible interpretation, not an established mechanism. The result does not establish that accumulating health conditions causes a better training response.
How can you track your own response?
- Compare measured changes with your own starting values rather than the group average.
- Track strength and walking alongside lean mass, so one outcome does not stand in for all progress.
- Record training adherence, a factor you can work on.
- Choose fixed reassessment intervals and follow the same outcomes; the interval is a practical suggestion, not a tested prescription from this study.
Consistent 1RM records in fairlift let lifters inspect their own response curve. The Muscle Index calculator includes an age coefficient for masters lifters aged 40+, but cannot replace walking assessments. For a related discussion of differing outcomes, see exercise for sarcopenia.
This was an observational secondary analysis within an RCT that randomized 314 community-dwelling adults, mean age 74.5 ± 3.8 years, to physical training or combined physical and cognitive training. The responder analysis included 288 participants measured before and after training, regardless of allocation. Physical training combined resistance, walking, balance and flexibility; cognitive training used executive function tasks. Associations do not establish causes, and the abstract supplies no loads, sets or frequencies.
Frequently asked questions
Does a low response mean training had no effect?
No such conclusion follows from the classification alone. High response meant exceeding 0.2 times the baseline standard deviation, so a smaller improvement could still fall below that cutoff.
Can strength improve without a gain in muscle mass?
In this analysis, mean appendicular lean mass did not change significantly, while mean grip and knee extension strength improved significantly. High responder shares were 17% for appendicular lean mass, 27% for grip and 46% for knee extension strength.
Do more health conditions mean a better training response?
Multimorbidity was associated with higher odds of high responses in 2–5 outcomes (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.47–4.59). Greater room for improvement is a possible interpretation, but the analysis does not show that the conditions caused a better response.
What should I record to assess my own response?
A practical approach is to record baseline strength and walking measures, repeat them at fixed intervals, and log training adherence. Lifters can also follow 1RM records in fairlift, although this study did not evaluate Big 3 lifts or Muscle Index scores.
Source: PubMed (published )