RESUMOObjetivo: O presente trabalho examinou a influência de um programa de exercícios físicos prolongados (dois anos) sobre a força muscular e a flexibilidade corporal de mulheres idosas (60-80 anos), não institucionalizadas, da Província de Salamanca (Espanha). Método: Participaram 32 sujeitos, escolhidos dentre os participantes do Programa de Revitalização Geriátrica desenvolvido pela Universidade de Salamanca. Os critérios para escolha dos sujeitos foram: serem do sexo feminino, terem entre 60 e 80 anos e terem participado de pelo menos 74% do programa de atividades físicas. Foram realizadas 174 sessões de atividade física, durante 58 semanas, com freqüência de três vezes por semana e duração de 50 a 55 minutos cada uma. No período do experimento foram realizadas quatro medidas da força muscular manual, por meio de manômetro de pressão, e da flexibilidade corporal, por meio do teste sit and reach. Os dados foram analisados por meio de ANOVA com medidas repetidas. Resultados: Tanto em relação à força muscular, quanto à flexibilidade os dados apontam para a ausência de diferenças significativas (p= 0,005). Conclusões: O programa contribuiu para a manutenção da força de preensão manual no período de dois anos e, em relação à flexibilidade corporal, os dados indicam a necessidade de reprogramação dos exercícios destinados ao desenvolvimento de tal capacidade.Palavras-chave: atividade física, idosos, força muscular, flexibilidade corporal. ABSTRACT Influence of a Long-Term Physical Activity Program on Hand Muscle Strength and Body Flexibility Among Elderly WomenObjective: The present study evaluated the influence of a two-year physical activity program on muscle strength and body flexibility among non-institutionalized elderly women (60-80 years old), from Salamanca Province in Spain. Method: Thirty-two individuals were chosen to take part in the Geriatric Revitalization Program at Salamanca University. The selection criteria were that they should be female, between 60 and 80 years old, with an attendance rate of at least 74% in the physical activity program. There were 174 physical activity sessions, over a 58-week period, three times a week, lasting 50-55 minutes each. During this period, four measurements of hand muscle strength were made, using a pressure manometer, and also of body flexibility, using the sit and reach test. The data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measurements. Results: There were no significant differences in relation to either muscle strength or flexibility (p=0.005). Conclusions: The program contributed towards maintaining hand grip strength over the two-year period. For body flexibility, the data indicate the need to reprogram the exercises aimed at developing this capacity.

objective: The influence of the open University of the Third Age (São Carlos Educational Foundation) (UATI-FESC) and the geriatric Revitalization program (REVT) on the quality of life of middle-aged and elderly adults was evaluated. method: Seventy individuals in their first year at UATI and REVT participated in this study. The inclusion criteria were that the subjects had to be at least 50 years old and be capable of filling out questionnaires. UATI had an interdisciplinary program comprising six lectures (once a week each). Three were on physical activities: Tai Chi Chi Kung, Body Expression and physical Therapy and health promotion; three on social and cultural promotion: musical Education, Art and Citizenship in the Third Age; and there were also commemorative activities and cultural tourism. REVT had 48 physical activity sessions, three times a week, lasting 50-55 minutes each. All the participants were evaluated using the World health organization Quality-of-Life (WhoQoL-bref) and Short-Form 36 medical outcomes Study (SF36) questionnaires at baseline and at the end of the 16-week intervention. The data were analyzed using ANoVA with repeated measurements. Results: There were no differences between the groups. Both groups showed significant improvement in quality of life according to the overall result from WhoQoL-bref and also in the psychological and Environmental domains and the initial questions: "how would you rate your quality of life?" and "how satisfied are you with your health?", in WhoQoL-bref. There was also a significant improvement in the general health domain of SF36. For the physical and Social Relations domains of WhoQoL-bref and other domains of SF36, there was no significant improvement. Conclusions: These programs improved quality of life according to WhoQoL-bref and the general health domain of SF36.