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Abstract
The aims of this systematic review and metaanalysis were to determine the general effects of RT on measures of muscle strength and morphology and to provide dose-response relationships of RT variables through an analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) that could improve muscle strength and morphology in healthy old adults. The authors quantified the overall effects of RT on measures of muscle strength and morphology by computing weighted between-subject standardized mean differences between intervention and control groups. They analyzed the data for the main outcomes of one-repetition maximum (1RM), maximum voluntary contraction under isometric conditions (MVC), and muscle morphology (i.e., cross-sectional area or volume or thickness of muscles) and assessed the methodological study quality by Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. RT improved muscle strength substantially, but had small effects on measures of muscle morphology. Specifically, RT produced large effects in both 1RM of upper and lower extremities and a medium effect in MVC of lower extremities.