Effects of 12 weeks of strength training and circuit exercise on functional autonomy in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Recently, to strength training (ST) practice for elderly people have been comum, in manner that to evaluate the beneficial of this exercise modality with other exercise methods on functional autonomy compared to other exercise forms is still relevant. Objective: to compare the effect 12 weeks of different training methods on functional autonomy in elderly women. Method: Thirty-six older women (67 ± 2 years) were separated in the strength training group (GTF), circuit's gymnastics training (GTC) and control (C). Results: After 12 weeks, significant decrease occurred only to GTF for tests: walk 10 m (C10m, -9.1%), getting up from a sitting position (LPS, -19.1%), getting up the prone position (LPDV, -32.4%) and getting up from the chair and walk around of the house (LCLC, -12.2%), and dressing and undressing a shirt (VTC, -32.6%). The GTF also showed significant decreases for LPS (-4.5%), LPDV (-1.9%) and VTC (-4.1%) compared to GTC. Conclusion: Thus, strength training appears to be a strategy for improving functional autonomy in the elderly more effective than circuit's gymnastics training.