OPTIMAL DOSAGE OF STRENGTH EXERCISE FOR MUSCLE HYPERTROPHY IN OLDER ADULTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Keywords:
strength training; muscle hypertrophy; older adults; sarcopenia; exercise dosageAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0446
Abstract
The present has the objetive to synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of strength training in older adults on muscle mass, strength, and physical function, as a basis for future discussion on the optimal dosage of this type of exercise. There was done a systematic review with searches in PubMed, Scopus, and OpenAlex (records exported in August 2026), following the PRISMA 2020 methodology; 237 records were identified, of which 232 were screened after removing duplicates; given the scarcity of trials directly comparing different doses (load, volume, frequency) of strength training with muscle hypertrophy as an outcome, the intervention criterion was explicitly and transparently broadened to include strength training trials versus a control group, with any muscle mass, strength, or physical function outcome; 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the eligibility criteria. Strength training consistently improved muscle strength and functional performance versus control in the vast majority of studies; only one trial reported direct hypertrophy outcomes (leg lean mass and ultrasound muscle thickness), with significant increases after training. In conclusion: strength training is effective for improving strength and physical function in older adults compared with usual care, but specific evidence on the optimal dosage (load, volume, frequency) to maximize muscle hypertrophy in this population remains scarce in the literature retrieved by this search; RCTs specifically designed to compare different training doses with direct hypertrophy measures (muscle cross-sectional area, muscle thickness, lean mass) are needed.
Keywords: strength training; muscle hypertrophy; older adults; sarcopenia; exercise dosage.
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