The effects of community-based exercise modalities and volume on musculoskeletal health and functions in elderly people

Abstract

The effects of different muscle loading exercise (MLEX) modes and volume on musculoskeletal health is not well-studied in older populations.Aim: Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of community-based MLEX modalities and volume on musculoskeletal health in elderly people.Methods: Elderly men (n = 86) and women (n = 170), age 50–82 years old, were assigned to the sedentary (SE, n = 60), muscle strengthening exercise (MSE, n = 71), aerobic exercise (AE, n = 62) and Tai Chi exercise (TCE, n = 63) groups, based on > 2 years of exercise history. Exercise volume was compared between “Minimum” (“Min” < 60 min/week), “Low” (60–120 min/week). “Moderate” (121–239 min/week) and “High” (240–720 min/week) volumes.Results: All three modes of MLEX were associated with lower percentage of body fat (BF%) and higher percentage of lean body mass (LBM%, p = 0.003 main effect of group, and p = 0.002 main effect of volume for both BF% and LBM%), but not with higher bone mineral density (BMD, total body, lumbar spine, total hip and neck of femur), than SE. TCE had a distinct advantage in trunk flexibility (p = 0.007 with MSE, p = 0.02 with AE, and p = 0.01 with SE), and both TCE (p = 0.03) and AE (p = 0.03) performed better than SE in the one-leg stand balance test. Isometric strength and throwing speed and peak power with a 2 kg power ball were higher in the MLEX than SE groups (p = 0.01), in the ranking order of MSE, AE and TCE. However, there was no difference in handgrip strength performance between the MLEX groups, which performed better than the SE participants. Accumulating >120 min/week of MLEX can promote body composition health and muscle functions, but 60 min/week of MSE alone may have equal or better outcomes in these parameters.Conclusion: Community-based MLEX classes may be used to mitigate age-related chronic disease that are associated with body composition and muscular functions.