Muscle-strengthening activities are associated with lower risk and mortality in major non-communicable diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
PubMed 35228201 · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2021-105061
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of MEDLINE and Embase databases through June 2021. They evaluated prospective cohort studies examining associations between muscle-strengthening activities (independent of aerobic exercise) and the risk of non-communicable diseases and mortality in adults aged 18 years or older without severe health conditions. Sixteen cohort studies were included.
What was found
Muscle-strengthening activities were associated with a 10% to 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), total cancer, diabetes, and lung cancer. No association was found for colon, kidney, bladder, or pancreatic cancers. J-shaped associations were observed for all-cause mortality, CVD, and total cancer, with maximum risk reductions (approximately 10% to 20%) occurring at 30 to 60 minutes per week of muscle-strengthening activities. Diabetes showed an L-shaped association with large risk reductions up to 60 minutes per week. Combined muscle-strengthening and aerobic activities showed lower risk for all-cause, CVD, and total cancer mortality compared to neither.
Why it matters
This review provides quantitative evidence that relatively brief weekly resistance training (30 to 60 minutes) is associated with substantial reductions in non-communicable disease risk and premature mortality.
Limits
All included data are observational and cannot establish causal relationships. Exact participant counts, effect estimates (hazard ratios/relative risks), and confidence intervals are omitted from the abstract. The influence of higher volumes of muscle-strengthening exercise remains unclear given the J-shaped curves.