Investigación Gerontológica y Geriatría

Abstracto

Impact of Aerobic Training Associated with Muscle Strengthening in Elderly Individuals at Risk of Sarcopenia: A Clinical Trial

Lygia Paccini Lustosa, Danielle Aparecida Gomes Pereira, Adriana Netto Parentoni, Rosangela Correa Dias, João Marcos Domingues Dias and Leani Souza Máximo Pereira

Background: Physical exercises are beneficial for healthy aging. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People recommends the use of an algorithm to identify the risk of sarcopenia. Objective: To compare an isolated muscle-strengthening program with a concurrent aerobic training and muscle strengthening program. Design: Non-randomized clinical trial. Setting: A community at “risk of sarcopenia” according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Participants: Sedentary, community-dwelling elderly women ( ≥ 65 years) with a gait velocity >0.8 m/s and handgrip strength <20 kg/f. Methods: Isolated training comprised muscle strengthening (75% of the 1-repetition maximum; 3x/week, 10 weeks). Concurrent training comprised muscle strengthening (75% of the 1-repetition maximum) plus aerobic training (30 min; 3x/ week, 10 weeks). We evaluated the pre- and post-intervention mobility and balance (Timed Up and Go test) and estimated the functional capacity and lower limb strength (Chair Stand Test). Between-group comparisons were made using a 2x2 analysis of variance (Bonferroni post-hoc) with a 5% significance level. Results: Of the 25 participants, 12 and 13 were assigned to the concurrent and isolated training groups, respectively (average age, 70.25 ± 4.78 years, average body mass index = 29.55 ± 4.65 kg/m2 and 73.00 ± 4.88 years, 29.99 ± 3.81 kg/m2, respectively). Both groups exhibited post-intervention improvements in mobility and balance (Timed Up and Go), with a higher percentage of improvement in the concurrent training group. The concurrent training group exhibited significant differences in functional capacity and estimated muscle strength (Chair Stand Test; p=0.002). Conclusion: The 2 training programs provided the benefits of improved mobility and balance in elderly women at “risk of sarcopenia”; concurrent training was more effective in terms of the functional capacity.