This document summarizes key points about strength training for seniors: 1) Seniors can safely participate in strength training 2-3 times per week, which can help them rebuild muscle mass and increase metabolism to reverse the effects of aging. 2) Studies show seniors can gain 2-4 pounds of muscle and lose fat with 8-12 weeks of training that works major muscle groups 1-3 times per week. 3) Proper strength training for seniors focuses on full-body exercises, 8-15 reps per set at moderate weights, and progressive overload to continue building strength over time.

1. Strength Training
ALL class taught June 15, 2010
Kenny Nabors, Certified Personal Trainer, Manager Fitness 19 281-897-0000
66% of keeping fit is diet, the rest is physical training.
The three main body areas to work on first (the largest muscle groups):
1) Legs – (exercises include leg press, leg extension, leg curl)
2) Back – (exercises include lat pull down, high row, seated row, back extension)
3) Chest - (exercises include chest press, incline chest press, flye)
When these three muscle groups are exercised regularly, the smaller groups (biceps, triceps,
neck, abs) will get a work out as well.
Begin with a 5 minute warm up: either a whole body exercise like elliptical, jumping jacks,
etc., or a no weight version of the strength training exercise you are going to be working on.
To start out, do an exercise for each one of the large muscle groups at least 3 times per week.
8 to 12 reps, 2 to 3 sets. Use a weight that you are able to finish but with a little bit of
difficulty. Do each muscle group all at once or rotate through. Follow up with some cardio
work or save that for the next day while the muscles repair. As you find it getting easier,
increase the weight and or reps and sets. Try to change up days and exercises to keep your
body from getting used to the routine. Add work on the smaller muscle groups. If done on
the same day, always do strength training first and cardio work second.
Swimming is the best overall sport work out for the body (full body exercise).
(Google: Strength Training for Seniors, Wayne L. Westcott, Importance of Resistance Training)
Strength Training for Seniors, Wayne L. Westcott, Ph.D., C.S.C.S.
Importance of Resistance Training
Men and women who do not perform regular resistance exercise experience progressive
muscle atrophy throughout the aging process. Research indicates that inactive adults lose
about one-half pound of muscle per year during their 30's and 40's. The rate of muscle
loss may double to one-pound per year in people past 50 years of age. Unfortunately, the
higher rate of fat gain masks the muscle loss. As illustrated in Figure 1, adults typically lose
about 5 pounds of muscle and add about 15 pounds of fat each decade during the midlife
years.

2. Based on bodyweight the average adult changes approximately 10 pounds per decade, but
based on body composition the average adult changes approximately 20 pounds per decade (5
pounds less muscle and 15 pounds more fat). As presented in Figure 1, a woman in her
50's may have 15 pounds less muscle and 45 pounds more fat than she had in her 20's. This
represents an unhealthy 60-pound change in her body composition, which increases her risk
for a variety of devastating degenerative problems such as cardiovascular disease, many types
of cancer, type II diabetes, and low back pain. While the focus is typically on fat loss (one out
of two American adults is presently on a weight reduction diet plan), more emphasis should be
placed on muscle gain. This is due to the fact that the 5-pound per decade loss of muscle is
largely responsible for up to a 5 percent per decade reduction in resting metabolic rate. A
slower resting metabolism means that some calories previously used by high-energy muscle
tissue are no longer needed, and are therefore stored as fat. Because a pound of muscle
requires between 35 to 50 calories a day for tissue maintenance, a 10-pound muscle loss may
reduce resting metabolism by 350 to 500 calories daily. Think of cutting your daily food intake
by 20 to 25 percent, and you will better appreciate the importance of muscle and metabolism.
Although eating fewer calories can prevent weight gain, it cannot reduce the rate of muscle
loss or metabolic slowdown. It is obviously more desirable to maintain both muscle and
metabolism, as well as the functional capacity to perform physical activities. Progressive
resistance exercise can build muscle tissue that facilitates physical performance and enhances
energy utilization throughout the senior years. In fact, strength training is the only type of
exercise that can maintain muscle and metabolism as we age, and should therefore be the
essential component of every senior fitness program.
Fortunately, older adults can rather quickly rebuild muscles that have atrophied from years of
sedentary living. Research has repeatedly shown significant increases in muscle mass and
resting metabolic rate in seniors who do regular resistance exercise. Senior research subjects
at Tufts University and the University of Maryland added 3.0 to 3.5 pounds of muscle and
increased their resting metabolism by 6.8 to 7.7 percent after 3 to 4 months of standard
strength training.
We recently conducted a large-scale strength training study with 1,132 men and women
between 20 and 80 years of age. As presented in Table 1, the younger adults (21-40 years),
middle-aged adults (41-60 years) and older adults 61-80 years) made similar improvements in
bodyweight, percent fat, fat weight and lean (muscle) weight after 8 weeks of basic resistance
exercise.
It is interesting to note that adult and senior men add about 3 to 4 pounds of lean (muscle)
weight after 2 to 3 months of strength exercise, whereas adult and senior women gain about 2
to 3 pounds of lean (muscle) weight over the same training period. Although the rate of
improvement is almost the same, men typically replace more muscle than women during a
given time period because they generally have greater body mass.

3. On average, previously sedentary seniors can replace approximately 3 pounds of muscle after
about 3 months of regular resistance exercise. Further, 3 pounds more muscle tissue
increases resting metabolic rate by approximately 7 percent in older adults. Additionally the
senior exercisers in these studies averaged about 50 percent greater muscle strength after
completing their training program. Research clearly confirms the importance of resistance
training for effectively reversing the muscle loss, metabolic slowdown, and strength
decrement associated with the aging process.
There are many more health-related reasons why seniors should perform regular resistance
exercise. As presented in the March 2002 issue of Fitness Management YMCA Quarterly,
strength training can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, diabetes,
osteoporosis, low back pain and depression.
Principles of Strength Training
Generally speaking, the guidelines for healthy senior strength exercisers are essentially the
same as those for younger adults and youth. Basically, a well-designed strength training
program for any age group consists of several exercises that address all of the major
muscle groups. Studies with older adults have used as few as 5 exercises and as many as 15
exercises. For example, a landmark study with older women incorporated only the leg press,
leg extension, pulldown, back extension and abdominal curl exercises, whereas a classic study
with senior golfers included the leg extension, leg curl, hip adduction, hip abduction, leg press,
chest cross, chest press, pullover, lateral raise, biceps curl, triceps extension, low back
extension, abdominal curl, neck flexion, and neck extension exercises.
Sets
Most senior strength training studies have used a one, two or three set training protocol.
Typically, programs with fewer exercises perform multiple sets, and programs with more
exercises perform single sets. For example, participants in the older women study performed
3 sets each of the 5 resistance exercises, whereas participants in the senior golfers study
performed one set each of the 15 resistance exercises. Participants in both programs
completed 15 exercise sets per session, which represents a reasonable recommendation for
most senior strength training protocols.
In a recent meta-analysis of several strength training studies, all but one showed no significant
difference between performing single or multiple sets of resistance exercise. The researchers
therefore concluded that training with one, two or three sets per exercise is equally effective
for strength development and largely a matter of personal preference. Based on the research
protocols used with senior subjects and the comparative studies on exercise sets, a standard
strength training session for older adults may include 8 to 24 sets of exercise.

4. The following guidelines represent a sensible approach for training sets based on the number
of exercises performed:
• 4 to 8 exercises………………………………………….... 2 to 3 sets each
• 8 to 12 exercises…………………………………..……... 1 to 2 sets each
• 12 to 16 exercises………………………………………... 1 set each
Generally speaking, older adults should take at least two minutes recovery time between
successive sets of exercise. This time period permits almost full replenishment of the
anaerobic energy source used during strength training.
Resistance and Repetitions
There is an inverse relationship between the amount of resistance used and the number of
repetitions performed. The productive resistance range for strength development is generally
considered 60 to 90 percent of maximum resistance, with a standard recommendation of
approximately 75 percent of maximum resistance. Research indicates that most adults can
complete between 8 and 12 repetitions with 75 percent of their maximum resistance, and
the majority of senior strength training studies have incorporated this exercise protocol.
Although 8 to 12 repetitions with 75 percent of maximum resistance has proven to be a safe
and productive strength training protocol for men and women between 50 and 90 years of
age, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that seniors perform 10 to 15
repetitions per set with slightly less resistance. This more conservative training approach is
most appropriate for beginning exercisers. However, as higher levels of strength fitness are
attained, most seniors can safely progress to lower repetition exercise protocols. The
textbook, Strength Training for Seniors, recommends the following training progressions for
seniors who prefer to use heavier resistance.
• Beginner Exercisers 12 to 16 repetitions with about 65 percent of maximum resistance.
• Intermediate Exercisers 8 to 12 repetitions with about 75 percent of maximum resistance.
• Advanced Exercisers 4 to 8 repetitions with about 85 percent of maximum resistance,
periodically.
Progression
The key factor in strength development is progressive resistance. For continued progress,
seniors must gradually increase the training load as the muscles become stronger. A safe
approach to more challenging training sessions is known as the double progressive program, in
which clients increase the number of repetitions before they increase the exercise resistance.
For example, seniors following an 8 to 12 repetition protocol should use the same resistance
until they can complete 12 good repetitions, at which point they should increase the
resistance by 5 percent or less.
Technique
The two major factors in exercise technique are movement speed and movement range.
Although research has not revealed an optimal speed for strength training, studies with senior
subjects have incorporated relatively slow movement speeds, typically averaging about 6

5. seconds per repetition. At about 6 seconds per repetition, a set of 10 repetitions requires
approximately one-minute of continuous muscle action/tension, which provides a productive
stimulus for strength development. Because slower movement speeds involve less momentum
they provide more controlled and consistent stress to the musculoskeletal system, thereby
reducing the risk of injury.
Seniors should develop strength throughout the full-range of every joint action, if they can do
so without discomfort. Research indicates that full-range strength requires full-range
repetitions, as strength gains are specific to the exercise movement patterns. Consequently,
most strength exercises should be performed throughout the full-range of pain-free
movement to maximize muscle development and maintain joint integrity.
Frequency
Strength training is recommended on non-consecutive days, as the muscle microtrauma that
results from resistance exercise generally requires about two recovery days for tissue
remodeling and strength building. Research with more than 1,100 adults and seniors
showed more muscle development from three-day-per-week training than from two -day-per-
week training. However, the difference was relatively small (about 10%), indicating that twice-
a-week strength training is highly effective.
Based on the available research, two or three strength training sessions per week are
recommended for senior exercisers, dependent upon lifestyle factors and personal
preferences. Ideally, the weekly strength workouts should be as evenly spaced as possible. For
example, seniors who train three times a week may follow a Monday-Wednesday-Friday
schedule, whereas those who train twice a week may exercise on Mondays and Thursdays.
Breathing
Seniors must make sure to breathe continuously when performing resistance exercise. For
best results, they should exhale during each lifting movement and inhale during each lowering
movement. If you notice them holding their breath, reduce the weightload so that they
breathe continuously throughout every repetition.
Discussion of Findings
The results of this relatively large research study should be encouraging news for senior men
and women. Consider the following key findings for the 341 older adults who completed the
eight week basic fitness program.
1. Seniors can safely participate in a well-designed and carefully-supervised program of
strength exercise. There were no injuries among the senior subjects in this study. Of course, all
participants should have their physician's approval before beginning an exercise program.

6. 2. Seniors can improve their body composition. The seniors in this exercise program reduced
their percent fat by 2.0% after just two months of training. This was similar to the body
composition improvements attained by the younger adults.
3. Seniors can decrease their fat weight. Like the younger program participants, the senior
subjects lost more than four pounds of fat weight during the eight week training period.
4. Seniors can increase their lean (muscle) weight. The seniors in this study added 2.4 pounds
of lean weight after two months of training. In the important area of muscle replacement, the
senior men and women did just as well as the young and middle-aged adults.
5. Seniors can reduce their resting blood pressure. Following eight weeks of regular exercise,
the senior subjects experienced a 3.7 mm Hg drop in their diastolic blood pressure and a 6.2
mm Hg drop in their diastolic blood pressure. These resting blood pressure decreases were
greater than those of the younger program participants.
6. Seniors can develop physically active lifestyles, even after years of sedentary behavior. Over
90 percent of the senior program participants continued to exercise after the completion of
the study. They were highly satisfied with the results of the eight-week exercise program and
committed themselves to keep up their training efforts.
In summary, seniors have much to gain from regular strength training, particularly as part of a
supervised exercise program. The senior men and women in this study reported looking,
feeling and functioning better, which is consistent with their recorded improvements in
bodyweight, body composition, and resting blood pressure. It appears that an hour of
exercise, two or three days a week is one of the best investments seniors can make for their
health and fitness.