Effects of Resistance-band Training and Nutritional Supplementation in Healthy Older Adults

Sarcopenia, characterized by the age-related reduction in strength, muscle mass, and physical function, decreases the ability to perform activities of daily living. Physical inactivity and inadequate nutrition are contributing factors to the development of sarcopenia. Resistance training is a safe, viable and effective intervention which increases measures of muscle and bone mass, muscle performance (i.e., strength, endurance) and functional ability in older adults. However, older adults indicate that high costs and difficulty finding training programming and/or facilities are barriers to participating in resistance training. Home-based resistance-band training is safe, effective and serves as a viable alternative to traditional resistance training (i.e., involving free-weights and machine-based equipment). From a healthy aging perspective, resistance-band training elicits similar improvements in strength (primary indicator of sarcopenia) and functional ability compared to traditional resistance training in older adults. In addition to resistance training (involving resistance-bands), creatine and whey protein supplementations have also been shown to have favorable effects on measures of muscle, bone and functional ability in older adults. However, no study has examined the effects of resistance-band training and creatine and whey protein supplementation in older adults.