Analysis of Balance, Muscle Strength, FunctionalAutonomy, and Quality of Life in Elderly WomenSubmitted to a Strength and Walking Program

摘要

Vale RGS, Castro JBP, Mattos RS, Rodrigues VF, Oliveira FB,Rosa G, Gama DRN, Nunes RAM. Analysis of Balance, MuscleStrength, Functional Autonomy, and Quality of Life in Elderly WomenSubmitted to a Strength and Walking Program. JEPonline 2018;21(3):13-24. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects ofphysical activity programs on balance, muscle strength, functionalautonomy, and quality of life in elderly women. The subjects weredivided into a resistance exercise group (REG, n = 15, age: 68 ± 4.4yrs) and a walking group (WG, n = 15, age: 69 ± 8.9 yrs). Balancewas assessed by force platform using the open base and open eyesprotocol with 20 sec on the bipedal position. The displacement of thecenter of pressure (COP): lateral displacements (LD), anteriorposteriordisplacements (APD), and elliptical area (EA) wereanalyzed. Muscle strength of lower limbs and right and left palmargrip were assessed by dorsal and manual grip dynamometers. TheGDLAM protocol was applied to calculate the autonomy index (AI).The total score (TS) for quality of life was determined using theWHOQOL-Old. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significantdecrease in LD, APD, and EA (P<0.05), and improvement in musclestrength, AI, and TS (P<0.05) in the REG compared to the WG in thepost-test. This study indicates that resistance training improves thequality of life in elderly women.