The Effects of Eccentric Resistance Exercise on the Physical and Physiological Profile of the High Functioning Older Adult
type: CreativeWork
description: The population is ageing in nearly every country in the world and New Zealand is no exception. In New Zealand, 14% of the total population is currently 65 years and older, compared to 12% in 2002 (Statistics NZ, 2012). The number of older adults has doubled since 1980 and this number is expected to double again by 2036 (Statistics NZ, 2012). However, populations of disabled and diseased older adults are of major social and economic concern. Preventative efforts against the devastating yet predictable effects of ageing are likely to translate into significant reductions in this societal and economic burden (Goldman et al., 2013). Structured resistance exercise is increasingly acknowledged as a potent treatment of many of these effects that are commonly associated with ageing. Thus, the primary focus of this PhD was to conduct a series of cohesive investigations in order to answer the research question, What is the relative efficacy of eccentric-only resistance exercise and the more practically applicable eccentrically-biased resistance exercise when compared the more conventionally prescribed traditional resistance exercise with regards to changes in the physical and physiological profile of healthy, high functioning, resistance trained older adults? This PhD thesis is constructed into several parts to organize the flow of investigation. The conclusion from our narrative literature review provides evidence in support of eccentric exercise for several outcomes of interest to older, healthy adults. Outcomes such as increased muscular strength and improved functional capacity are expected to occur following eccentric exercise. In addition, major muscular soreness that typically accompanies eccentric muscle actions can be avoided in this older population. Taken together, eccentric exercise proves to be at least as effective as other heavy training modalities as well as to be found safe to perform. Our acute crossover study describes novel physiological data not previousl…
abstract: The population is ageing in nearly every country in the world and New Zealand is no exception. In New Zealand, 14% of the total population is currently 65 years and older, compared to 12% in 2002 (Statistics NZ, 2012). The number of older adults has doubled since 1980 and this number is expected to double again by 2036 (Statistics NZ, 2012). However, populations of disabled and diseased older adults are of major social and economic concern. Preventative efforts against the devastating yet predictable effects of ageing are likely to translate into significant reductions in this societal and economic burden (Goldman et al., 2013). Structured resistance exercise is increasingly acknowledged as a potent treatment of many of these effects that are commonly associated with ageing. Thus, the primary focus of this PhD was to conduct a series of cohesive investigations in order to answer the research question, What is the relative efficacy of eccentric-only resistance exercise and the more practically applicable eccentrically-biased resistance exercise when compared the more conventionally prescribed traditional resistance exercise with regards to changes in the physical and physiological profile of healthy, high functioning, resistance trained older adults? This PhD thesis is constructed into several parts to organize the flow of investigation. The conclusion from our narrative literature review provides evidence in support of eccentric exercise for several outcomes of interest to older, healthy adults. Outcomes such as increased muscular strength and improved functional capacity are expected to occur following eccentric exercise. In addition, major muscular soreness that typically accompanies eccentric muscle actions can be avoided in this older population. Taken together, eccentric exercise proves to be at least as effective as other heavy training modalities as well as to be found safe to perform. Our acute crossover study describes novel physiological data not previousl…
author: Gluchowski, Ashley
keywords: Very heavy load, Resistance trained, Strength, Function, Body composition
date published: 2018
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:45:59Z
provider: AUT University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: AUT University