Strength and functional characteristics of men and women 65 years and older

Background: Resistance training programs for older adults (>65 years) are an effective method to counteract the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function associated with aging. Nevertheless, limited normative strength and functional data exist for the comparison and stratification of older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish normative strength and functional data for males and females 64-69 years, 70-74 years, and 75+ years old, using commonly available equipment and procedures. Methods: At total of 110 males and 191 females completed upper and lower body strength and functional performance testing. Measurements were compared across gender and age groups (65-69, 70-74, and 75+ years). Results: All strength measures, absolute and relative (to body and lean muscle mass), were significantly (