New Approaches in Educational Management and Health Sciences

New Approaches in Educational Management and Health Sciences

Effects of Linear and Nonlinear Resistance Training on Skeletal Muscle Growth Regulators (Myostatin and Follistatin) in Elderly Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fahimeh Tadayonzadeh 1
Forouzan Fattahi Masrour 1
Zahra Sarlak 2
1 Department of Exercise Physiology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Khod.C., Islamic Azad University, Khodabandeh, Iran
10.22034/edus.2026.588562.1116
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Aging is associated with unfavorable changes in hormonal status, which may increase the risk of chronic diseases. Resistance training is recognized as one of the most effective non-pharmacological strategies for counteracting the adverse consequences of aging. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of linear and nonlinear resistance training programs on myostatin and follistatin levels in elderly women.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with three groups (two experimental groups and one control group). The statistical population consisted of women aged 65–70 years residing in Tehran. A total of 36 participants were selected through purposive and convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: linear resistance training (n = 12), nonlinear resistance training (n = 12), and control (n = 12). The training intervention was conducted for 8 weeks, three sessions per week, with each session lasting 80 minutes. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results: The findings demonstrated that both linear and nonlinear resistance training significantly decreased myostatin levels and significantly increased follistatin levels compared with the control group. Comparison of the two training models indicated that nonlinear resistance training was slightly more effective in reducing myostatin and increasing follistatin concentrations.
Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that both linear and nonlinear resistance training significantly improved biomarkers associated with muscle growth and regeneration in women aged 65–70 years. Specifically, myostatin, one of the most important inhibitors of muscle growth, decreased significantly, whereas follistatin, a key facilitator of muscle growth and hypertrophy, increased significantly. These findings suggest that both resistance training models can be effective strategies for enhancing muscle health in elderly women, with nonlinear periodization demonstrating a slightly greater anabolic effect.
Keywords
Linear Resistance Training
Nonlinear Resistance Training
Myostatin
Follistatin
Elderly Women

Ethics Approval ID: IR.IAU.SARI.REC.1404.066

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New Approaches in Educational Management and Health Sciences
Volume 2, Issue 4
January 2026
Winter 2026
Pages 89-106

  • Receive Date 23 October 2025
  • Revise Date 28 December 2025
  • Accept Date 10 January 2026