The effect of high and low volume resistance training on quality of life and endurance in elderly women

Although physical activity improves the quality of life of the elderly, the effect of different volumes of resistance training is not well understood. Therefore, the present study was performed with aim to investigate the effects of high- and low-volume resistance training on endurance and quality of life in the inactive elderly women.

This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2020 on 30 elderly women in Mashhad. Subjects were randomly assigned into three equal groups of low-volume resistance training, high-volume resistance training and control groups. Subjects performed low-volume resistance training (one-set) and high-volume resistance training (three-set) protocols twice weekly for 12 weeks. Quality of life, six-minute walk distance (6MWD), and lower- (LBME) and upper body muscular endurance (UBME) were evaluated before and at the end of the protocols. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version 16) using dependent t test and analysis of covariance test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In comparison to the control group, both low- and high-volume resistance trainings resulted in significant increase in UBME, LBME, 6MWD and the subscales of physical functioning, general health, physical health and mental health (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the UBME, LBME, 6MWD and quality of life subscales in the low- and high-volume resistance training groups at the end of the exercise protocols (P>0.05).

Both low- and high-volume resistance trainings by increasing endurance could improve the quality of life in the inactive elderly women, but there was no significant difference between different volumes of resistance training with respect to quality of life.