The effect of upper body strength training on the chair rise performance of institutionalized older adults

Abstract

Research suggested that very frail older adults may not have enough strength to rise from a chair, and that upper body strength training may improve physical performance. This study examined the effect of upper body strength training on the chair rise performance of institutionalized older adults. Residents from the personal care units at Deer Lodge Centre were recruited. The 15 residents who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. All residents performed tests of maximum and self-paced chair rise performance time, as well as upper and lower body strength. The seven week strength training intervention included two exercises, the bench press and seated row, and residents were required to perform 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each exercise. Those in the control group performed primarily non-physical activities including the development of "life albums" (personal scrap books). Strength increased in the seated row, but not the bench press, and there was no change in residents' chair rise performance times. Residents trained at higher intensities and with greater loads on the seated row as compared to the bench press. In c nclusion, those who agreed to participate were not as frail as anticipated and did not have as much theoretical potential to improve in chair rise performance as expected. The non-significant change in bench press strength was attributed to the inability to train at a sufficient intensity or appropriate loads. Without increasing upper body strength, particularly bench press strength, the effect of strength on chair rise performance was inconclusive.