# EXERCISE TRAINING IN FUNCTIONALLY IMPAIRED OLDER WOMEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 1993 · $272,573

## Abstract

Functional impairment becomes increasingly prevalent with age.  Declines
in performance of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, whether
from specific diseases, undernutrition, or aging itself, may be
associated with impaired functional abilities.  However, it is not known
if improvements in muscle function and endurance capacity achieved in
such a population would result in improved functional independence as
well.  The proposed investigation would test the hypothesis that a year-
long exercise intervention in elderly women would result in clinically
important health benefits as defined by measures of functional status and
ambulatory abilities.  In addition, the critical relationships
between  nutritional  status,  energy  expenditure, body
composition, physical functioning, and response to training in elderly
women will be explored.

One hundred community-dwelling women over the age of 70 with mild to
moderate functional impairment will be enrolled in a one year controlled
clinical trial.  Subjects will be randomized to an experimental group
which will participate in three days per week of endurance and strength
training or a control group which will receive weekly mild stretching
exercises only.  High intensity resistance training of the upper and
lower extremities will be achieved using dynamic weight machines and
static forearm exercise.  Walking and stair climbing at moderate
intensity will comprise the endurance training intervention.  At
baseline, 6 months, and post-training, subjects will be characterized
with respect to their body composition, nutritional status, endurance
capacity, muscle strength, gait and balance, functional status, and
physical and psychological health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3123624
- **Project number:** 1R01AG011812-01
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** C1F5LNUF7W86
- **Principal Investigator:** MARIA A FIATARONE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $272,573
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1993-05-10 → 1998-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3123624

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3123624, EXERCISE TRAINING IN FUNCTIONALLY IMPAIRED OLDER WOMEN (1R01AG011812-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3123624. Licensed CC0.

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