Although previous investigations reported that strength is
maintained after 4–32 weeks of detraining in young subjects13
19 30 31 and 5–27 weeks in the elderly,20–22 32 33 little is
known about the effects of ST intensity on the magnitude
and rate of strength loss during detraining. The results of this
study are in agreement with previous reports, as UBS and
LBS were maintained for eight and 12 months in the LISTand HIST group respectively. However, it appears that
exercising at a higher intensity results in a lower rate of
strength loss during detraining (the rate of strength loss was
20–25% lower in the HIST group throughout detraining), and
strength gains are maintained for a longer period of time
(strength never reached baseline levels in the HIST group but
returned to baseline in the LIST group within eight months of
detraining). In a previous study, muscle activation as well as
muscle power was maintained above baseline values after a
24 week detraining period.20 In that study, older men
followed a ST protocol of progressively increased intensity
(50–80%). Another study used a nine week ST protocol,
which also used an intensity of 50–80% 1RM, and reported
that older adults were able to maintain strength after
31 weeks of detraining.21 Despite the fact that previous
studies did not compare ST intensities directly, it appears