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Resistance Training Is Medicine
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Resistance Training Is Medicine

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 10208

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Daniel J. McDonough

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
2. Principal Investigator, K99/R00, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Interests: exercise physiology; exercise science; physical activity and health; obesity; energy balance; sport physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent global estimates indicate that 30% of adults and 80% of adolescents do not meet the recommendations for aerobic physical activity. With concurrent global increases in sedentary behavior, physical inactivity is now estimated to be responsible for 3.2 million deaths and to cost healthcare systems worldwide USD 53.8 billion annually. Resistance training (e.g., weightlifting) is a more movement-varied, non-impact exercise modality that confers many health benefits independent of aerobic activity and that may be better tolerated by the general population with a high prevalence of sedentary behavior and overweight/obesity. However, resistance training is often overshadowed by aerobic activity in public health policy, if not omitted entirely. Therefore, urgent public health action is needed to increase priority and investment directed towards services that promote resistance training and decrease sedentary behavior both within health and other key sectors. Expanding the evidence base demonstrating the health benefits of resistance training across all age groups will help to achieve this. Accordingly, this Special Issue aims to provide selected contributions to advances in cardiometabolic, cardiovascular, mental, and weight-related health from resistance training.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The effect of resistance training on cardiometabolic, cardiovascular and/or weight-related health;
  • Mediators of resistance training and improved health outcomes;
  • Resistance training and risk of chronic disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), cardiovascular disease);
  • Resistance training in the treatment of chronic disease;
  • Resistance training for increasing physical activity/reducing sedentary behavior;
  • The health benefits of pediatric resistance training.

Dr. Daniel J. McDonough
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • resistance training
  • resistance exercise
  • physical activity
  • sedentary behavior
  • strength training
  • chronic disease
  • risk factors
  • obesity
  • physical health

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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14 pages, 1431 KiB  
Article
Impact of Diaphragm-Strengthening Core Training on Postural Stability in High-Intensity Squats
by Hyun Seo, Guyeol Jeong and Buongo Chun
Life 2024, 14(12), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14121612 - 5 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1694
Abstract
This study analyzed the effects of an 8-week diaphragmatic core training program on postural stability during high-intensity squats and examined its efficacy in injury prevention and performance enhancement. Thirty-seven male participants were randomly assigned to three groups: diaphragmatic core training group (DCTG, n [...] Read more.
This study analyzed the effects of an 8-week diaphragmatic core training program on postural stability during high-intensity squats and examined its efficacy in injury prevention and performance enhancement. Thirty-seven male participants were randomly assigned to three groups: diaphragmatic core training group (DCTG, n = 12), core training group (CTG, n = 13), and control group (CG, n = 12). Outcome measurements included diaphragm thickness, respiratory function (mean and maximal respiratory pressures), and squat postural stability (distance between the sacral and upper body center points, peak trunk extension moment, peak knee flexion moment, and dynamic postural stability index). Compared to both CTG and CG, DCTG demonstrated significantly greater improvements in diaphragm thickness (DCTG: 34.62% increase vs. CTG: 1.36% and CG: 3.62%, p < 0.001), mean respiratory pressure (DCTG: 18.88% vs. CTG: 1.31% and CG: 0.02%, p < 0.001), and maximal respiratory pressure (DCTG: 18.62% vs. CTG: 0.72% and CG: 1.90%, p < 0.001). DCTG also showed superior improvements in postural stability measures, including reductions in the distance between sacral and upper body center points (DCTG: −6.19% vs. CTG: −3.26% and CG: +4.55%, p < 0.05), peak trunk extension moment (DCTG: −15.22% vs. CTG: −5.29% and CG: +19.31%, p < 0.001), and dynamic postural stability index (DCTG: −28.13% vs. CTG: −21.43% and CG: no change, p < 0.001). No significant between-group differences were observed in peak knee flexion moment. Core training incorporating diaphragmatic strengthening was more effective than conventional training in improving postural stability during high-intensity squats. Core training programs, including diaphragmatic strengthening exercises, may contribute to injury prevention and performance enhancement in exercises requiring lumbar stability, such as squats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance Training Is Medicine)
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15 pages, 973 KiB  
Article
Elastic Band Training Versus Multicomponent Training and Group-Based Dance on Morphological Variables and Physical Performance in Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Jordan Hernandez-Martinez, Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz, Izham Cid-Calfucura, Francisca Villalobos-Fuentes, Daissy Diaz-Saldaña, Ignacia Alvarez-Martinez, María Castillo-Cerda, Tomás Herrera-Valenzuela, Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco and Pablo Valdés-Badilla
Life 2024, 14(11), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14111362 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 5810
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to analyze the effects of elastic band training (EBT) versus multicomponent training (MCT) and group-based dance (GBD) on waist circumference, body composition (body fat percentage and fat-free mass), and physical performance (handgrip strength, HGS; 30-s chair stand; timed up-and-go, [...] Read more.
Background: This study aimed to analyze the effects of elastic band training (EBT) versus multicomponent training (MCT) and group-based dance (GBD) on waist circumference, body composition (body fat percentage and fat-free mass), and physical performance (handgrip strength, HGS; 30-s chair stand; timed up-and-go, TUG) in Chilean older women. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups: EBT (n = 10), MCT (n = 10), and GBD (n = 10). Two 60-min sessions per week for 8 weeks were dedicated to the interventions with pre- and post-assessments. A two-factor mixed ANOVA model with repeated measures was performed to measure the time × group effect. Results: Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences between EBT and MCT in the body fat percentage (p = 0.001; ES = 2.488, large effect) in favor of MCT, while HGS in the non-dominant hand (p = 0.044; ES = 0.158) was in favor of EBT. In the intragroup results, only the MCT significantly decreased the body fat percentage (p = 0.044; ES = 0.426, small effect), and EBT significantly increased HGS in the dominant (p < 0.001; ES = 0.977, large effect) and non-dominant (p < 0.001; ES = 0.583, moderate effect) hands and improved the 30-s chair stand (p = 0.003; ES = 1.612, large effect) test. The GBD did not report significant changes. Conclusions: MCT significantly reduced the body fat percentage regarding EBT, and EBT significantly improved HGS in the non-dominant hand regarding MCT, with no differences reported in the rest of the analyzed variables between the groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance Training Is Medicine)
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13 pages, 622 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study of Different Respiratory Muscle Training Methods: Effects on Cardiopulmonary Indices and Athletic Performance in Elite Short-Track Speedskaters
by Tomasz Kowalski, Andrzej Klusiewicz, Kinga Rębiś, Adrian Wilk and Michał Starczewski
Life 2024, 14(9), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14091159 - 13 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1726
Abstract
Respiratory muscle training (RMT) improves endurance performance, balance, and ability to repeat high-intensity exercise bouts, providing a rationale to be applied in short-track speedskating. To establish a preferable RMT method for short-track speedskating, the influence of inspiratory pressure threshold loading (IPTL) and voluntary [...] Read more.
Respiratory muscle training (RMT) improves endurance performance, balance, and ability to repeat high-intensity exercise bouts, providing a rationale to be applied in short-track speedskating. To establish a preferable RMT method for short-track speedskating, the influence of inspiratory pressure threshold loading (IPTL) and voluntary isocapnic hyperpnoea (VIH) on cardiopulmonary indices and athletic performance was investigated. Sixteen elite short-track speedskaters completed 6 weeks of RMT based on IPTL or VIH. Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnTs), cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs), spirometry assessments, and on-ice time trials were performed before and after RMT intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess the differences between each method’s influence. No statistically significant (p > 0.05) differences between RMT methods were found in performance during the WAnT, CPET, or specific on-ice time trials. Spirometry measures were similar between both methods. Significant effects were found for the interaction between maximum breathing frequency during CPET (BFmax) and method (p = 0.009), as well as for the interaction between BFMax, method, and sex (p = 0.040). BFmax decreased for IPTL and increased for VIH. The interaction between method and sex revealed that BFmax increased only in males performing VIH. Our findings suggest that IPTL and VIH lead to analogous effects in the study participants, highlighting a negligible practical disparity in the impact of different RMT methods in elite short-track speedskaters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance Training Is Medicine)
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29 pages, 2228 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effects of Resistance Training on Sarcopenia Risk Among Healthy Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Physiological Mechanisms
by Karuppasamy Govindasamy, Chythra R. Rao, Baskaran Chandrasekaran, Koulla Parpa and Urs Granacher
Life 2025, 15(5), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15050688 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 447
Abstract
Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, significantly increases health risks in healthy older adults. Resistance training (RT) is believed to counteract sarcopenia through a variety of physiological mechanisms, many of which remain underexplored by public health and physiotherapy professionals. [...] Read more.
Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, significantly increases health risks in healthy older adults. Resistance training (RT) is believed to counteract sarcopenia through a variety of physiological mechanisms, many of which remain underexplored by public health and physiotherapy professionals. This scoping review aims to consolidate studies that have explored RT programs in mitigating sarcopenia among healthy older adults. A systematic search in four knowledge databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Complete) was conducted on 30 April 2024 to consolidate the evidence of RT programs to mitigate sarcopenia risk among healthy older adults. Two reviewers independently screened, consolidated, and synthesized the results based on the Arksey and O’Malley framework. We included 36 studies supporting the RT program for reducing sarcopenia risk among healthy older people. Current evidence, predominantly derived from studies with high selection bias and non-randomized designs, indicates that RT programs may enhance muscle strength in healthy older adults. However, their impact on muscle morphology and mobility appears less pronounced. The dosage and intensity of RT are critical factors influencing these health outcomes. To substantiate the health benefits of RT in healthy older adults and facilitate the translation of research findings into policy-level recommendations, further high-quality, randomized controlled trials are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resistance Training Is Medicine)
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