Open AccessBalance, physical conditioning, and health perception in elderly women submitted to a 32-week physical exercise program
Author(s) -
Rodrigo Gomes de Souza Vale,
Andréa Carmen Guimarães,
Samária Ali Cader,
Robert H. Wood,
Helô André,
Juliana Brandão Pinto de Castro,
Estélio Henrique Martín Dantas
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
biomedical human kinetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.2
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2080-2234
DOI - 10.2478/bhk-2022-0005
Subject(s) - balance (ability) , physical therapy , medicine , test (biology) , analysis of variance , conditioning , perception , dynamic balance , physical fitness , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , paleontology , statistics , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , biology
Study aim : To assess the effects of a long-term physical exercise program on balance, physical conditioning, and health perception in elderly women. Material and methods : The sample, 143 elderly women, were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n = 71; age: 71.62 ± 4.96 years) and control group (CG; n = 72; age: 72.89 ± 5.40 years). The EG was submitted to a 32-week physical exercise program (3×/week, 60 min/session). Balance and physical conditioning were assessed through the 10-step in a straight-line test, the unipedal balance test (UBT), the timed up and go (TUG) test, and the 30-second chair stand test (30s CST). Health perception was evaluated by a questionnaire. Results : Repeated measures ANOVA (2×3) revealed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in TUG and 30s CST in the EG from the pre- to the post-test and when compared to the CG in the post-test. There were significant increases (p < 0.05) in health perception, 10-step test, and UBT in the EG, and significant improvements (p < 0.05) in these EG variables when compared to the CG in the post-test. Conclusions : Participating in the exercise program resulted in improvements in balance, muscle strength, agility, and health perception in the elderly of the present study.