Systematic Review • 2009 • Liu and Latham; Cochrane
Research Summary
This Cochrane review brings together 121 randomised trials involving 6,700 participants to examine progressive resistance training in older adults. The central finding is that exercising muscles against increasing resistance improves strength and can improve physical functioning. Outcomes include everyday movement tasks, making the review relevant to a programme concerned with maintaining independence. Progressive training means that the challenge is adjusted as ability improves, rather than repeating an unchanged routine indefinitely. The evidence supports resistance exercise as an important component of healthy ageing, but not every study used the same exercises, intensity or participant group. Reporting of adverse events was incomplete, limiting conclusions about safety across all clinical populations. The review is a landmark foundation from 2009 and should be paired with newer research when developing detailed training prescriptions.
Evidence and limitations: Large trial synthesis; older evidence and incomplete harms reporting
Catalogue reference: KL-010. Source reviewed: 27 September 2026. This summary is independent of the publisher.