Healthy ageing requires maintaining functional ability, by optimising behaviour and creating an environment that preserves intrinsic capacity as resilience declines.1–3 A key impaired intrinsic capacity is power—the product of force and velocity. Muscle power declines substantially with ageing, impacting physical function and contributing to falls, disability and mortality.2 3 The objective of this editorial is to highlight the benefits of power training in older adults. Power training (performing fast and forceful muscle contractions) remains underused despite significant evidence of benefits across fit-to-frail spectra.4 This overlooked exercise modality holds potential to prolong independence in ageing populations.5 Age-related physiology (loss of fast-twitch fibres and accompanying neural changes) diminishes power output in ways traditional slow-velocity strength training does not address (ie, early onset of muscle force and maximal rate of force development).2 By prioritising the speed of muscle contractions, power training improves force and velocity capabilities that directly enhance function. Without targeted power training, slowness can be expected. Though evidence shows benefits across a spectrum from healthy to frail individuals, including hospitalised older patients, power training remains underused in practice.2 3 6 Why the disconnect? Unfamiliarity among clinicians and limited access to specialised equipment might well contribute.2 Concerns over injury risks may also limit adoption, despite proper precautions making power training safe. Simply put, power training lacks wider acceptance considering its significant potential. We have no drugs that directly improve functional capacity or frailty.3 …

中文翻译：

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延长老年人的独立性和健康老龄化的力量

健康的老龄化需要通过优化行为和创造一个在弹性下降时保留内在能力的环境来维持功能能力。1-3 一个关键的内在能力受损是力量——力和速度的乘积。肌肉力量随着年龄的增长而大幅下降，影响身体功能并导致跌倒、残疾和死亡。2 3 这篇社论的目的是强调力量训练对老年人的好处。尽管有大量证据表明力量训练（进行快速有力的肌肉收缩）对适合虚弱的人群有好处，但力量训练（进行快速有力的肌肉收缩）仍然没有得到充分利用。4这种被忽视的运动方式有可能延长老年人群的独立性。5与年龄相关的生理学（快肌收缩的丧失）纤维和伴随的神经变化）以传统慢速力量训练无法解决的方式减少功率输出（即肌肉力量的早期开始和力量发展的最大速率）。2通过优先考虑肌肉收缩的速度，力量训练可以提高力量和力量直接增强功能的速度能力。如果没有有针对性的力量训练，速度就会缓慢。尽管有证据表明，从健康到虚弱的个体（包括住院的老年患者），力量训练都具有益处，但力量训练在实践中仍未得到充分利用。2 3 6 为什么会出现这种脱节？临床医生不熟悉以及获得专业设备的机会有限很可能是原因之一。2尽管采取了适当的预防措施使力量训练安全，但对伤害风险的担忧也可能限制采用。简而言之，考虑到力量训练的巨大潜力，它还缺乏更广泛的接受度。我们没有可以直接改善功能能力或虚弱程度的药物。3 …