Muscles as Adaptable Locomotor Springs: Clinical Interventions
- pdf version of the abstract

A study was conducted to determine if a chronic eccentric training intervention, i.e., negative work, could limit or even reverse sarcopenia and its related impairments and functional limitations. Is high-force eccentric training tolerable by elderly people and will it result in improved muscle size, strength, balance, and fall risk? 21 frail elderly subjects experienced 11 weeks of lower extremity resistance training. The experimental eccentric (ECC) group performed negative work while exercising on a high-force eccentric ergometer. The active “controls” performed traditional lower extremity resistance exercise. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area and strength, balance, stair descending abilities, and fall risk were assessed prior to and following this intervention. The data demonstrate that lower extremity resistance exercise can improve muscle structure and function in those with limited exercise tolerance. The greater strength increase following negative work training resulted in improved balance, stair descent, and fall risk only in the ECC group. Because low energy cost is coupled to high force production with eccentric exercise, this intervention may be useful for a number of patients that are otherwise unable to achieve high muscle forces with traditional resistance exercise.