Development of a Power Training Program to Improve Mobility in Older Veterans

Gerofit Power Training will include a power training exercise prescription which will focus on having participants perform concentric portions of each resistance exercise as fast and as safely as possible with the eccentric component performed in a slow and controlled manner. The target dose of the power training intervention is 40-60% of the participant's 1-repetition maximum for 4-6 repetitions across 3-6 sets for each exercise. Exercises will focus on the major groups of the upper and lower body. All other Gerofit program components (balance, aerobic, and flexibility) will be consistent with the standard of care group. Sessions will be the same duration as the standard of care Gerofit group (60-75 minutes). The power training and standard of care groups will only differ in the form of resistance training performed.

Gerofit standard of care is a 60-75 minute multimodal exercise program which includes 20-30 minutes of aerobic training, traditional strength training of the major upper and lower body muscle groups (1-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at moderate load), flexibility training and balance training.