Dosificación óptima del ejercicio de fuerza para la hipertrofia muscular en adultos mayores: Una revisión sistemática
Palabras clave:
entrenamiento de fuerza; hipertrofia muscular; adultos mayores; sarcopenia; dosificación del ejercicioResumen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18edespsep.0446
Resumen
El presente tiene como objetivo sintetizar la evidencia disponible sobre la efectividad del entrenamiento de fuerza en adultos mayores sobre la masa muscular, la fuerza y la función física, como base para una futura discusión sobre la dosificación óptima de este tipo de ejercicio. Se realizó una revisión sistemática con búsqueda en PubMed, Scopus y OpenAlex (registros exportados en agosto de 2026), siguiendo la metodología PRISMA 2020; se identificaron 237 registros, de los cuales 232 se cribaron tras eliminar duplicados; ante la escasez de ensayos que compararan directamente distintas dosis (carga, volumen, frecuencia) de entrenamiento de fuerza con hipertrofia muscular como desenlace, el criterio de intervención se amplió, de forma explícita y documentada, para incluir ensayos de entrenamiento de fuerza frente a un grupo control, con cualquier desenlace de masa muscular, fuerza o función física; 14 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) cumplieron los criterios de elegibilidad. El entrenamiento de fuerza mejoró de forma consistente la fuerza muscular y el rendimiento funcional frente al control en la gran mayoría de los estudios; solo un ensayo reportó desenlaces directos de hipertrofia (masa magra de pierna y grosor muscular por ecografía), con incrementos significativos tras el entrenamiento. Se concluye que el entrenamiento de fuerza es efectivo para mejorar la fuerza y la función física en adultos mayores frente al cuidado habitual, pero la evidencia específica sobre la dosificación óptima (carga, volumen, frecuencia) para maximizar la hipertrofia muscular en esta población continúa siendo escasa en la literatura recuperada por esta búsqueda; se requieren ECA diseñados específicamente para comparar distintas dosis de entrenamiento con medidas directas de hipertrofia (área transversal muscular, grosor muscular, masa magra).
Palabras claves: entrenamiento de fuerza; hipertrofia muscular; adultos mayores; sarcopenia; dosificación del ejercicio.
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.
Información del manuscrito:
Fecha de recepción: 23 de junio de 2026.
Fecha de aceptación: 15 de agosto de 2026.
Fecha de publicación: 21 de septiembre de 2026.
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Derechos de autor 2026 Revista Científica Arbitrada en Investigaciones de la Salud GESTAR. ISSN: 2737-6273.
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