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Project

Resistance training as a stimulus for improved physical activity in later life

All of us will, the sooner or the later, be confronted with an age-related decline in muscle strength and muscle mass which has an impact on quality of life. There is plenty of scientific evidence confirming the positive effect of strength training in later life on functionality. However, most of the training programs for elderly focus on the increase of cardiovascular fitness. Muscle strength training is often neglected. Those training programs are most often not adapted to the population of elderly and elderly are believed to be injury prone in those programs. With this project we want to develop adapted strength training programs for elderly addressing all target populations from the most fit to the more frail individuals. We will focus on training programs which can increase the functionality at every age (by a boost of strength training), with specific attention for the long term effects. A broad range of programs will be developed (eg from exercises in the water to more sport specific schedules) in different environments (sports club, fitness center, home based). In this way, we can respond on the needs and requirements that emerge from the different sports federations. Those needs and requirements will be listed in the preparation phase of the project.
Date:1 Apr 2016 →  31 Mar 2017
Keywords:Elderly, Strength Training, Functionality, Sports Federations, Adapted training programs
Disciplines:Orthopaedics, Human movement and sports sciences, Rehabilitation sciences