Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on knee extensor muscle hypertrophy in adults 65 years and older. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to review randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of supervi...

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Main Authors: Davi Alves de Santana, Pedro Godoi Scolfaro, Emanuele Marzetti, Cláudia Regina Cavaglieri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Experimental Gerontology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556524002857
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author Davi Alves de Santana
Pedro Godoi Scolfaro
Emanuele Marzetti
Cláudia Regina Cavaglieri
author_facet Davi Alves de Santana
Pedro Godoi Scolfaro
Emanuele Marzetti
Cláudia Regina Cavaglieri
author_sort Davi Alves de Santana
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on knee extensor muscle hypertrophy in adults 65 years and older. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to review randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of supervised RT on 1) muscle size, 2) fiber area, and 3) leg lean mass (LLM). Random-effects meta-analyses of standardized mean difference (SMD) and raw mean difference (RMD) for LLM were calculated. We performed a meta-regression to examine the interference of age, training volume, and duration on the results related to hypertrophy at muscle and fiber levels. Results: Thirty-two studies were included in the review, and 28 were meta-analyzed. The meta-analysis found a significant effect of RT on muscle size (SMD = 0.34; 95 % CI: 0.16–0.52; p < 0.001) and fiber area (SMD = 0.54; 95 % CI: 0.24–0.84; p < 0.001), but not on LLM (RMD = 0.22; 95 % CI: −0.22-0.66 p = 0.321). A subanalysis of studies that assessed quadriceps femoris size (excluding isolated quadriceps femoris muscles from the analysis) also revealed a significant effect of RT (95 % CI: 0.20–0.69; p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated a significant influence of intervention duration on type II fiber area (p = 0.034), while no significant influence was detected for weekly sets or age for any outcome measure. Conclusions: RT promotes muscle hypertrophy in older adults at both whole-muscle and fiber levels, with training duration potentially influencing the response. Measures of leg lean mass may not capture RT-induced adaptation.
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spelling doaj-art-0b7959fcc025408e9460c5ce57cd85402025-08-20T02:49:05ZengElsevierExperimental Gerontology1873-68152024-12-0119811263910.1016/j.exger.2024.112639Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trialsDavi Alves de Santana0Pedro Godoi Scolfaro1Emanuele Marzetti2Cláudia Regina Cavaglieri3Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Adventist University Center of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Geriatrics, Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Corresponding author at: Department of Geriatrics, Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, BrazilObjectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on knee extensor muscle hypertrophy in adults 65 years and older. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to review randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of supervised RT on 1) muscle size, 2) fiber area, and 3) leg lean mass (LLM). Random-effects meta-analyses of standardized mean difference (SMD) and raw mean difference (RMD) for LLM were calculated. We performed a meta-regression to examine the interference of age, training volume, and duration on the results related to hypertrophy at muscle and fiber levels. Results: Thirty-two studies were included in the review, and 28 were meta-analyzed. The meta-analysis found a significant effect of RT on muscle size (SMD = 0.34; 95 % CI: 0.16–0.52; p < 0.001) and fiber area (SMD = 0.54; 95 % CI: 0.24–0.84; p < 0.001), but not on LLM (RMD = 0.22; 95 % CI: −0.22-0.66 p = 0.321). A subanalysis of studies that assessed quadriceps femoris size (excluding isolated quadriceps femoris muscles from the analysis) also revealed a significant effect of RT (95 % CI: 0.20–0.69; p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated a significant influence of intervention duration on type II fiber area (p = 0.034), while no significant influence was detected for weekly sets or age for any outcome measure. Conclusions: RT promotes muscle hypertrophy in older adults at both whole-muscle and fiber levels, with training duration potentially influencing the response. Measures of leg lean mass may not capture RT-induced adaptation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556524002857Muscle massStrength trainingExerciseAgingSarcopenia
spellingShingle Davi Alves de Santana
Pedro Godoi Scolfaro
Emanuele Marzetti
Cláudia Regina Cavaglieri
Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
Experimental Gerontology
Muscle mass
Strength training
Exercise
Aging
Sarcopenia
title Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
title_full Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
title_fullStr Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
title_full_unstemmed Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
title_short Lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials
title_sort lower extremity muscle hypertrophy in response to resistance training in older adults systematic review meta analysis and meta regression of randomized controlled trials
topic Muscle mass
Strength training
Exercise
Aging
Sarcopenia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556524002857
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