Strength training for the elderly is crucial for reducing sarcopenia and stopping the decrease of muscular strength. In urban centres, we can notice a large number of outdoor training parks with strength, endurance and flexibility machines installed. It is important that the machines are safe to use and have a suitable load for the person to have the desired effect.
In this study, we wanted to determine if the machines are suitable for the development of power in the elderly. In the outdoor training park Kodeljevo, we selected 3 power exercises: push, pull, and rider. Testing was attended by 16 elderly people aged between 65 and 75 years. During the testing, 11 women and 5 men tried to do the maximum number of repetitions using the correct technique of a particular exercise.
We found that on the machines rider and pull, most people were able to do 30 repetitions, which means that it is impossible to develop strength using such a machine. All men made 30 repetitions when using the pull machine, which means there is no chance for strength development either. For the majority of women, the pull machine represented a reasonable load so they were able to do some strength training. The biggest problem of the outdoor training park is the inability to change the load of an individual machine.
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