University of Kassel, Institute of Sports and Sport Science, Department of Training and Movement Science, Kassel, 34121, Germany.
Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute of Sport Science, Department of Sport and Movement Science, Oldenburg, 26129, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 13;10(1):2506. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59105-0.
Aging is associated with declines in physical and cognitive performance. While there is no doubt about beneficial effects of physical exercise on proxies of strength and balance, the overall evidence for positive effects of resistance and balance training on executive functions is rather inconsistent. Whether the simultaneous exercising of strength and balance, i.e., instability resistance training, promotes executive functions in older adults is unknown. In the present trial, we tested the effects of unstable vs. stable resistance training on executive functions. Sixty-eight healthy older adults aged 65-79 years were randomly assigned to either an instability free-weight resistance training or one of two stable machine-based resistance training programs. Each group exercised twice a week on non-consecutive days for 10 weeks. Four tests to evaluate specific domains of executive functions were administered prior and following training: working memory, processing speed, response inhibition and set-shifting. The instability resistance training group improved working memory, processing speed and response inhibition from pre to post-test. In contrast, we found no improvements in executive functions for both stable resistance training groups. Our results demonstrate that 10 weeks of instability resistance training suffice to improve executive functions in older adults.
衰老是与身体和认知表现的下降有关。虽然毫无疑问，体育锻炼对力量和平衡的指标有有益的影响，但阻力和平衡训练对执行功能的积极影响的整体证据相当不一致。同时进行力量和平衡训练，即不稳定阻力训练，是否能促进老年人的执行功能尚不清楚。在本试验中，我们测试了不稳定与稳定阻力训练对执行功能的影响。68 名年龄在 65-79 岁的健康老年人被随机分配到无不稳定的自由重量阻力训练或两种稳定的机器阻力训练方案之一。每组每周两次，非连续两天进行 10 周的训练。在训练前后进行了四项评估执行功能特定领域的测试：工作记忆、处理速度、反应抑制和定势转移。不稳定阻力训练组在工作记忆、处理速度和反应抑制方面的表现从预测试到后测试都有所提高。相比之下，我们发现两种稳定阻力训练组在执行功能方面都没有改善。我们的结果表明，10 周的不稳定阻力训练足以改善老年人的执行功能。
