The Efficacy of Functional and Traditional Exercise on the Body Composition and Determinants of Physical Fitness of Older Women: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

Aim To analyze the efficacy of functional training (FT) and traditional training (TT) in body composition and determinants of physical fitness in older women. Methods This is a randomized clinical trial in which participants performed two 12-week periods of different training methods, separated by eight weeks of washout. Forty-eight physically active older women (≥60 years of age) completed the intervention in three groups: (i) program that started with FT and ended with TT (FT ⟶ TT: n = 19), (ii) program that started with TT and ended with FT (TT ⟶ FT: n = 13), and (iii) stretching group (SG: n = 16). Before and after the interventions, the body composition was evaluated by bioimpedance, the physical fitness by battery of the Senior Fitness Test, and the quality of movement by Functional Movement Screen®. Results Compared with SG, TT ⟶ FT and FT ⟶ TT promoted significant improvements in balance/agility (13.60 and 13.06%, respectively) and upper limb strength (24.91 and 16.18%). Only FT showed a statistically significant improvement in the strength of the lower limbs, cardiorespiratory capacity, and movement patterns when compared with SG considering the adaptations of methods separately. Conclusion The programs used are equally effective in increasing physical fitness for daily activities in physically active older women, and therefore, they may be complementary to combat some of the deleterious effects of senescence.

Effects of 6-Week Traditional and Functional Resistance Training on Arterial Stiffness and Muscular Strength in Healthy Young Men

“…Regarding the body composition, our results indicated significant changes in body fat percentage and lean body mass in both groups, but the difference between the groups was non-significant in terms of these parameters. This result is consistent with that of a previous study ( de Resende-Neto et al, 2019a ). Several studies have demonstrated the efficiency of resistance training in neuromuscular and metabolic stimulation to endorse tissue structure changes, such as reduced adipose and increased muscle tissues ( Hunter et al, 2013 ; Marín-Cascales et al, 2018 ).…”

Whole-body Functional and Traditional Resistance Training are equally effective in increasing Muscular Fitness and Performance Variables in Untrained Young Men

“…Regarding the body composition, our results indicated signi cant changes in body fat percentage and lean body mass between the groups, although the difference between the groups was nonsigni cant in terms of these parameters. This result is consistent with that of a previous study [42]. Several studies have demonstrated the e ciency of resistance training in neuromuscular and metabolic stimulation to endorse tissue structure changes such as reduced adipose and muscle tissues [43,44].…”

Efectos de un programa de entrenamiento multicomponente sobre indicadores de salud física y cognitiva de mujeres mayores

“…Además, el estudio de De Resende et al (2019a) donde fueron evaluados dos grupos (EFZA y EF), para el grupo EFZA se constató un aumentos significativo en la masa magra, y en el grupo EF hubo disminución significativa en el % de grasa, resultados que son semejantes a los encontrados en la presente investigación con EMC, teniendo en cuenta que en esta, fueron usados los dos métodos EFZA + EF junto a las amortiguaciones de las caídas del EJA (Tabla 2).…”

“…Se resaltan todavía otros hallazgos, como en el estudio de Cassemiro et al (2017) Cabe resaltar, que además de los métodos de entrenamiento utilizados EFZA y EF en este estudio, que ya están descritos ampliamente en la literatura demostrando su eficacia en la mejora en las múltiples variables de la salud (Cassemiro et al, 2017, Guedes et al, 2016, Heubel et al, 2018, De Resende et al, 2019a, también fue usado de forma innovadora, la inclusión del método EJA, en el cual (Borba et al, 2013a;2013b;, presentaron el EJA como alternativa en la protección contra caídas en mujeres en edad avanzada, mostrando mejoras en el desempeño del equilibrio, fuerza muscular, mantenimiento de la densidad mineral ósea y la calidad de vida comparado al GC.…”

“…Por lo expuesto, se constata que un estilo de vida saludable, incluyendo una práctica regular de actividad física, contribuye para mejores resultados en las múltiples variables de salud (Brito et al, 2007;Terra et al, 2017, De Resende et al, 2019a. Luego, los resultados presentados en este estudio y la discusión generada, refuerzan las consideraciones del Ministerio de Salud de Brasil, Brito et al, (2007) relacionadas a la atención primaria la salud del adulto mayor, que busca promover un estilo de vida que favorece el constante desarrollo de la CAF 22(1) | 14 autonomía funcional, funciones cognitivas con consecuente mejoría de la calidad de vida, pero que necesita ser traducida en acciones efectivas que incluyen los ejercicios físicos.…”