Impact of Periodization Models on Muscle Adaptation in Older Adults

Key Findings

• Exercise training has a small effect on muscle mass quality (MMQ) and medium to large effects on neuromuscular quality (NMQ) in older adults.
• Acute unilateral resistance exercise (RE) can lead to a reduction in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in both limbs of older adults, indicating a cross-limb transfer effect.
• Resistance training is effective in mitigating age-related and menopause-related muscle mass and strength loss in middle-aged women.
• Moderate load eccentric and concentric resistance training (RET) can induce muscle and tendon adaptations in both young and older individuals.
• Periodized exercise programs are emerging as beneficial for enhancing physical fitness, including muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, in various populations.

Practical Applications

• Incorporate periodized resistance training programs to enhance neuromuscular quality in older adults.
• Utilize unilateral exercises to potentially benefit both limbs through cross-limb transfer effects.
• Design resistance training regimens specifically for middle-aged women to counteract muscle mass and strength loss due to aging and menopause.
• Consider moderate load eccentric and concentric exercises to promote muscle and tendon health in older clients.

Sources

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-023-1982-1
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40798-023-00585-5
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-025-01693-8
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12905-023-02671-y
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-021-00396-0
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-025-02311-5