Relative Training Intensity and Increases in Strength in Older Women

This research note describes a series of correlations found between relative training intensity and increases in strength following a strength conditioning program with 15 women ages 60 to 77 years. Before and after 16 weeks of 3-day-a-week training, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) was evaluated in 6 exercises. Subjects trained at intensities varying from 50 to 80% of 1-RM, increasing an average of 48% in the upper body and 60% in the lower body. Exercise intensity (%1-RM trained during the last 2 weeks of the study) was negatively related to changes in 1-RM for all 6 strength tests (r varying from −0.26 to −0.80; 3 were significant and 3 were nonsignificant). The negative relationships were independent of age and initial 1-RM values. Subjects training at relatively low intensity, 50 to 60% 1-RM, tended to increase strength more than those training at relatively high intensity, 70 to 80% 1-RM. These results call for further research to determine the optimal training prescription for obtaining strength gains in older women.