What this means
Older adults trained at loads matched to their speed gap or at loads not matched. Each group changed differently in force and speed, but power and daily function did not differ.
Plain-English summary written by an AI model from the abstract. The original is below.
- Who it was tested in
- 57 older adults aged 65 and up, 12-week trial
- Kind of research
- A clinical trial in people
The science
- Original title
- The Effects of Force-Velocity Profile-Based Load Prescription on Muscle Power and Functional Performance in Velocity-Deficient Older Adults.
- Authors
- Deboutte J, Delecluse C, Thomis M et al.
- Journal
- Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports
- Published
- Oct 29, 2026
- Study type
- Clinical trial · in humans
- PMID
- 42954324 ↗
Abstract
Muscle power is essential for functional capacity in older adults and can be improved through power-focused resistance training (PRT). PRT adaptations are load- and velocity-specific, yet optimal load prescription remains unclear. As force and velocity capacities vary between individuals, this 12-week intervention compared two force-velocity (F-V) profile-guided loading strategies: training at loads matched versus not matched to the F-V deficit. F-V profiles of 80 adults ≥ 65 years were assessed on a pneumatic leg press, with maximal force (F0) and velocity (V0) expressed as z-scores relative to a younger reference group (n = 60, 20-35 years). A difference ≥ 1 between z-scores was considered indicative of a deficit, with the direction determining a force- or velocity-deficit profile. As force deficits were rare (n = 4), the intervention only included participants with a velocity deficit (n = 59), of whom 57 initiated the intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to train at loads matched to their deficit (individualized; IND) or at loads deliberately not matched to their deficit (non-individualized; NON-IND). Maximal power, F-V profile parameters and functional performance were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. From baseline to 12 weeks, F0 increased more in NON-IND than IND (p = 0.040), while V0 increased more in IND than NON-IND (p = 0.009). Changes in power and functional performance did not differ between groups (all p ≥ 0.065). In velocity-deficient older adults, differences in F-V-guided load prescription led to distinct F-V adaptations but did not lead to differences in power or functional performance. Trial Registration: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06449716).
Deboutte J, Delecluse C, Thomis M et al. The Effects of Force-Velocity Profile-Based Load Prescription on Muscle Power and Functional Performance in Velocity-Deficient Older Adults. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2026. doi:10.1111/sms.70392. PMID: 42954324. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42954324/
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