Resistance Exercise Helps Older Men Keep Muscle During Bed Rest
Author Information
Author(s): B. Smeuninx, Yasir S. Elhassan, Elizabeth Sapey, Alison B. Rushton, Paul T. Morgan, Marie Korzepa, Archie E. Belfield, Andrew Philp, Matthew S. Brook, Nima Gharahdaghi, Daniel Wilkinson, Kenneth Smith, Philip J. Atherton, Leigh Breen
Primary Institution: University of Birmingham
Hypothesis
A single bout of prior resistance exercise will attenuate the decline in muscle mass and myofibrillar protein synthesis during bed-rest in older men.
Conclusion
A single bout of resistance exercise before bed-rest helps older men maintain muscle mass and protein synthesis better than those who do not exercise.
Supporting Evidence
- Resistance exercise can stimulate muscle protein synthesis over several days of recovery.
- Prior resistance exercise helps maintain muscle mass during periods of inactivity.
- Participants who exercised showed less muscle loss compared to those who did not.
Takeaway
If older men do some exercise before lying in bed for a long time, they can keep more of their muscle and stay healthier.
Methodology
Participants performed a single bout of unilateral leg resistance exercise before undergoing 5 days of bed-rest, with muscle biopsies and MRI scans conducted to assess muscle mass and protein synthesis.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias as participants were recruited from local advertisements and may not represent the broader population of older adults.
Limitations
The study was limited to healthy older men and may not generalize to other populations or longer periods of disuse.
Participant Demographics
Ten healthy older men aged 65-80 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.022
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website