EFEITO DO TREINO DE FORÇA NA HIPERTROFIA MUSCULAR EM IDOSOS SAUDÁVEIS: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

OBJECTIVE: To systematically summarize the literature considering studies that address strength training and its effects on muscle hypertrophy in healthy older people. METHODS: The search was developed on the PubMed platform considering the PICOS strategy. The search date of the selected studies included the last 5 years (01.01.2017 to 07.21.2021). Studies in any language were considered. As eligibility criteria, the studies were required to contain: healthy older people; interventions with strength exercises; outcomes with hypertrophy measures (MRI, ultrasound, etc). RESULTS: In total, 14 studies were included, totaling 470 older individuals (296 participants in the experimental group and 174 participants in the control group), aged between 60 and 80 years. The strength training interventions took place over between 4 and 30 weeks, with sessions from 1 to 7 times a week. Tests of balance, measurement of muscle temperature, capacity and functional performance, and strength tests were also carried out, with the most common being the 1 repetition maximum test (1RM). For the hypertrophy measurements, dual energy X-ray (DXA), ultrasound, bioelectrical impedance, and computed tomography were used. The analyzed studies showed a significant increase in muscle volume in the intervention groups when compared to control groups (follow-up or comparison). However, studies with comparison groups (another strength training strategy or protocol) also showed increases in muscle volume, with no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Strength training is effective in promoting improvements in muscle volume in older adults.