Does resistance training improve the functional capacity and well being of very young anorexic patients? A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We determined the effects of a 3-month low-moderate-intensity strength training program (2 sessions/week) on functional capacity, muscular strength, body composition, and quality of life (QOL) in 22 young (12-16 yrs) anorexic outpatients. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to a training or control group (n=11 [10 females] each). Training sessions were of low intensity (loads for large muscle groups ranging between 20%-30% and 50%-60% of six repetitions maximum [6RM] at the end of the program). We measured functional capacity by the time up and go and the timed up and down stairs tests. Muscular strength was assessed by 6RM measures for seated bench and leg presses. We estimated percent body fat and muscle mass. We assessed patients' QOL with the Short Form-36 items. RESULTS: The intervention was well tolerated and did not have any deleterious effect on patients' health, and did not induce significant losses in their body mass. The only studied variable for which a significant interaction (group x time) effect was found (p=.009) was the 6RM seated lateral row test. CONCLUSIONS: Low-moderate-intensity strength training does not seem to add major benefits to conventional psychotherapy and refeeding treatments in young anorexic patients.

Effects of an intrahospital exercise program intervention for children with leukemia.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to investigate the effect of a 16-wk intrahospital supervised conditioning program including both resistance and aerobic training and a 20-wk detraining period on measures of aerobic fitness, muscular strength, functional mobility, ankle range of motion, and quality of life (QOL) in children receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: Seven children (four boys, three girls; age: 5.1 +/- 1.2 yr, body mass: 24.0 +/- 5.8 kg, height: 114.6 +/- 7.7 cm) in the maintenance phase of treatment against ALL performed three sessions per week for 16 wk of resistance (one set of 8-15 repetitions of 11 exercises) and aerobic training (30 min at > 70% HRmax) followed by 20 wk of detraining where no structured exercise program was performed. Before training, after training, and after detraining, a treadmill test determining .VO2peak and ventilator threshold (VT), muscular strength (6RM), functional mobility (timed up and down stairs test, time up and go 3-m and 10-m tests), passive and dynamic ankle range of motion, and self-reported quality of living were determined. RESULTS: After training, significant increases in .VO2peak, VT, upper- and lower-body muscular strength, and all measures of functional mobility were shown (P < 0.05). Muscular strength was well maintained (significantly greater than before training and no significant decrease from after training) during detraining, whereas .VO2peak, VT, and functional mobility (not significantly different from before training but no significant decrease from after training) were only partially retained. CONCLUSION: Young children in the maintenance phase of treatment against ALL can safely perform both aerobic and resistance training. Training results in significant increases in measures of aerobic fitness, strength, and functional mobility. During detraining, strength and functional mobility are well maintained, whereas .VO2peak and VT are partially maintained.