Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
Sport and Physical Activity Research Group, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Exp Gerontol. 2021 Jul 1;149:111320. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111320. Epub 2021 Mar 24.
Deterioration of neuromuscular function is a major mechanism of age-related strength loss. Resistance training (RT) improves muscle strength and mass. However, the effects of RT on neuromuscular adaptations in middle-aged and older adults are unclear.
Randomised controlled RT interventions (≥2 weeks) involving adults aged ≥50 years were identified. Primary outcome measures were voluntary activation (VA), electromyographic (EMG) activity during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and antagonist coactivation. Data were pooled using a weighted random-effect model. Sub-analyses were conducted by muscle or muscle group and health status of participants. Sensitivity analysis was based on study quality. P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.
Twenty-seven studies were included. An effect was found for VA (standardised mean difference [SMD] 0.54, 0.01 to 1.07, P = 0.04), This result remained significant following sensitivity analysis involving only studies that were low risk of bias. Subgroup analyses showed an effect for plantar flexor VA (SMD 1.13, 0.20 to 2.06, P = 0.02) and VA in healthy participants (SMD 1.04, 0.32 to 1.76, P = 0.004). There was no effect for EMG activity or antagonist coactivation of any muscle group (P > 0.05).
Resistance training did not alter EMG activity or antagonist coactivation in older adults. Sensitivity analysis resulted in the effect for VA remaining significant, indicating that this finding was not dependent on study quality. Studies predominantly involved healthy older adults (78%), limiting the generalisability of these findings to clinical cohorts. Future research should determine the effects of RT on neuromuscular function in people with sarcopenia and age-related syndromes.
神经肌肉功能的恶化是与年龄相关的力量丧失的主要机制。阻力训练（RT）可改善肌肉力量和质量。然而，RT 对中年和老年人的神经肌肉适应性的影响尚不清楚。
确定了涉及年龄≥50 岁成年人的随机对照 RT 干预（≥2 周）。主要结局指标为自愿激活（VA）、最大自愿收缩（MVC）期间的肌电图（EMG）活动和拮抗肌共激活。使用加权随机效应模型汇总数据。亚分析按肌肉或肌肉群以及参与者的健康状况进行。基于研究质量进行敏感性分析。P<0.05 表示具有统计学意义。
共纳入 27 项研究。VA 存在效果（标准化均数差 [SMD] 0.54，0.01 至 1.07，P=0.04），在仅包括低偏倚风险研究的敏感性分析后，该结果仍然具有统计学意义。亚组分析显示，跖屈肌 VA （SMD 1.13，0.20 至 2.06，P=0.02）和健康参与者的 VA （SMD 1.04，0.32 至 1.76，P=0.004）有效果。任何肌肉群的 EMG 活动或拮抗肌共激活均无效果（P>0.05）。
阻力训练并未改变老年人的 EMG 活动或拮抗肌共激活。敏感性分析导致 VA 的效果仍然具有统计学意义，这表明该发现不依赖于研究质量。研究主要涉及健康的老年人（78%），限制了这些发现对临床队列的普遍性。未来的研究应确定 RT 对肌少症和与年龄相关的综合征患者的神经肌肉功能的影响。
