| The present study examined the effect of a progressive, whole-
body, high resistance training program on reported pain in older adults.
Ninety-eight participants (60 - 83 years) completed the McGill Pain
Questionnaire prior to and after an eight week training period. Seventy-nine
of the participants completed a progressive, high resistance training
program of 11 different exercises on three days a week. At the end
of eight weeks, the training group achieved significant strength gains
ranging from 62% -119% (p < 0.005). Pain measures for the training
and control groups were compared using an analysis of covariance on
post-test pain measures after an adjustment by pre-test scores. (p
< 0.05). The training group reported less perceived pain than the
control group in four pain measures (overall pain intensity, sensory
dimension, miscellaneous pain measures, number of pain descriptors
selected). There were no differences reported for the affective or
evaluative dimensions of perceived pain, the number of painful areas,
or the present pain. Results suggest that eight weeks of progressive,
whole-body weight training has a positive impact on perception of
pain in older adults.
KEY
WORDS: McGill
Pain Questionnaire, joint pain, strength.
|
