Effects of 12 weeks of intervention through multicomponent exercises on health-related physical fitness of older people

Introduction: The practice of physical exercises performed in a systematic way can prevent the deleterious effects of aging and related comorbidities. Objective: To evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of physical exercises (multicomponent) on the health-related physical fitness of older women. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial. Anthropometric assessments were performed, and body composition (via electrical bioimpedance) and physical fitness [handgrip dynamometry, elbow flexion, flexibility (Wells bench), timed up and go, sit and stand, 6-minute walk test]. The paired Student's t test was used to compare the two moments (pre and post-intervention), the relative and absolute delta of the study variables were calculated, as well as the effect size (Cohen's d), with p<0.05. Results: Twenty-three older women were evaluated, aged 67.3 +/- 5.2 years; body mass 75.1 +/- 15.0 kg; height 155.7 +/- 6.4 cm; and body mass index 30.8 +/- 5.2 kg/m(2). The following significant differences were verified: a reduction in body mass, the body mass index, waist circumference, and the timed up and go test, as well as an increase in maximal right and left handgrip isometric strength, the elbow flexion test, sit and stand, six-minute walk test, and VO2peak (p<0.05). No significant differences were found for the other variables investigated (p>0.05). Conclusion: Multicomponent exercises can help maintain or improve health-related physical fitness in older women.