Functional autonomy of elderly women enrolled in a physical activity program

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effects of a physical activity program on the functional autonomy of elderly women. The sample was divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 20; 68.51 ± 5.02 years; BMI = 27.01 ± 4.35) submitted to a physical activity program, and a control group (CG; n = 20; 67.01 ± 3.51 years; BMI = 26.71 ± 5.74). Functional autonomy was assessed using tests from the GDLAM autonomy protocol: 10 meter walk test (10MW), rising from a sitting position (RSP), rising from a ventral decubitus position (RVDP), rising from a chair and moving around the house (RCMH) and putting on and taking off a t-shirt (PTT), after which the autonomy index (AI) was calculated. In the EG, ANOVA showed significant reductions in execution times for the RSP (∆ =-3.92 s; p = 0.0001), RCMH (∆ =-9.61 s; p = 0.0001), 10MW (∆ =-0.94 s; p = 0.038) and RVDP (∆ =-1.15 s; p = 0.036) tests, as well as the AI (∆ =-6.27; p = 0.0001). This was not observed in the CG. Intergroup comparisons demonstrated that execution times for the RSP (∆% =-36.63; p = 0.0001), RCMH (∆% =-20.27; p = 0.0001), 10mW (∆% =-12.54; p = 0.002) and RVDP (∆% =-25.10; p = 0.005) tests and the AI (∆% =-21.37; p = 0.0001) of the EG were shorter than those of the CG. These results indicate that elderly subjects in the EG showed improved performance in activities of daily living after engaging in physical exercise.

Resistance training programs on bone related variables and functional independence of postmenopausal women in pharmacological treatment: A randomized controlled trial

“…The functional capacity of physically active older adult women is considered statistically betterregarding autonomy tests and the GDLAM indexwhen compared to sedentary older adult women's functional capacity (Guido et al, 2010;Santos & Griep, 2013). Studies show that PA can increase and maintain functional independence levels in physically active older adults, especially for the performance of activities of daily living (Daniel, Vale, Giani, Bacelar, & Danats, 2012;Pernambuco et al, 2013).…”

The effect Mat Pilates practice on muscle mass in elderly women

“…Nevertheless, in this study, there was a significant increase (p<0.002) in muscle mass among the elderly compared the results before and after the Mat Pilates practice, indicating, therefore, increased muscle strength, even not using load, besides the weight of their own body. It is an important result, once that muscle mass is related to the reduction of risks to health, improvement and/ or maintenance of functional capacity and hence the quality of life of the elderly (4)(5)(6) .…”

“…Since the number of people aged 60 and over grows in greater proportion than other age groups in the world population (2) , it is essential to know and understand the importance of muscle mass in reducing health risks, improvement and maintenance of the functional capacity and consequently the quality of life of the elderly (4)(5)(6) .…”

“…During the aging, the loss of muscle mass, with consequent decrease in muscle strength, is evident from the sixth decade of life. This process generally called sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass, natural and inevitable being considered in all humans (4)(5)(6)(7) .…”

Cognitive and functional ability of elderly women practitioners of different modalities of exercise

“…Through the functional evaluation Protocol of the Latin American Development Group for the Maturity, different studies have analyzed the functional capacity of elderly. One evaluated elderly between 60 and 77 years post intervention with a resistance training program, getting a functional evaluation Protocol of the Latin American Development Group for the Maturity for classified as good, that is, an even better score than older practitioners of weight training in the present study (functional evaluation Protocol of the Latin American Development Group for the Maturity weak) (14) . Another study conducted intervention with exercise in elderly women with a mean age of 64.5 years, confirming a regular functional capacity (15) .…”