Repercussions of training and detraining by water-based exercise on functional fitness and quality of life: a short-term follow-up in healthy older women

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of short‐term exercise detraining on the functional fitness of older women after a 12‐week water‐based exercise (WE) program.METHODS:Healthy older women (trained (TR) group) were submitted to 12 weeks WE (three 45 min sessions per week) followed by a 6‐week detraining period. A group of aged‐matched women without any exercise training (UN group) were evaluated during the same period. The aerobic power, measured by VO2max and 800 meters performance, and the neuromuscular fitness and quality of life were evaluated. All assessments were made at baseline, after 12 weeks of training and after 4 and 6 weeks of detraining.RESULTS:No changes were found for the UN group during the follow‐up study, but WE induced significant improvement in aerobic capacity, neuromuscular fitness and quality of life score. However, the upper and lower body strength, agility, flexibility, and body balance returned to UN levels (p>0.05) after 6 weeks of detraining.CONCLUSIONS:The results confirmed that 12 weeks of WE improves the functional fitness parameters and quality of life of older women. However, after a short detraining period of 4–6 weeks, the neuromuscular parameters and the quality of life score returns to baseline or untrained subject levels.

Estudio longitudinal de la flexibilidad funcional en mayores físicamente activos / Longitudinal study of Functional Flexibility in Olfer Physically Active

“…Algunos autores encontraron que el periodo vacacional y el desentrenamiento fueron suficientes para la pérdida de los beneficios conseguidos con un programa de ejercicio físico sobre la flexibilidad de sus sujetos mayores (Antes, Minatto, Costa y Benedetti, 2013;Bocalini, Serra, Rica y Santos, 2010).…”

Functional Challenges in the Elderly

“…Water exercise inducessignificant improvement in aerobic capacity, neuromuscular fitness and quality of life score (Simmons, 1996;Bocalini, 2010). Training needs to be constantly because a short length period of detraining (6 weeks) is responsible for returning to untrained levels the upper and lower body strength, agility, flexibility, and body balance (Bocalini, 2010).…”

“…Training needs to be constantly because a short length period of detraining (6 weeks) is responsible for returning to untrained levels the upper and lower body strength, agility, flexibility, and body balance (Bocalini, 2010).…”

“…The elderly cluster that underwent clinical trials based on exercise found improved strength in more than 40% (Ciolac and Brech, 2010;Ciolac and Greve, 2011) improved neuromuscular fitness and quality of life score (Bocalini, 2010). …”

“…Besides, exercise shows significant improvement in aerobic capacity (Bocalini, 2010;Ciolac and Greve, 2011), and heart rate response (Ciolac and Greve, 2011) …”