Title: Effects of Six-week Resistance Exercise using an Outdoor Knee Extension Machine on Function and Structure of the Knee Extensor Muscles
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leg extension exercises performed on outdoor resistance exercise machines on knee extension muscle strength and quadriceps muscle group cross sectional area (CSA) in elderly women. Two groups were recruited for this study, including an exercise group (EG: n=13, <TEX>$71.38{\pm}2.79$</TEX> yrs) and a control group (CG: n=5, <TEX>$73.4{\pm}5.94$</TEX>), In all subjects, maximum isometric and isokinetic muscle strength of knee flexion and extension were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex(R) Humac Norm Testing & Rehabilitation System, USA). Quadriceps muscle group CSA were measured using MRI (Philps, Intera 1.5 T, NE Netherlands). The results of this study showed that post-intervention isometric knee extension peak torque value were higher than pre-intervention measures in the EG. However, the EG did not show improvement in quadriceps muscle group CSA, Also, no differences in the shift of optimal knee joint angle were observed between pre and post-intervention exercise. Outdoor leg extension exercise showed small increases in muscle strength in comparison to other resistance training exercises. The results of this study suggest that because outdoor leg extension exercise machines lack a progressive loading mechanism, significant increases in muscle strength may not be obtained.