Author(s):
Martins, Raul A. 
; Cumming, Sean P. ; Silva, Manuel João Coelho e ; Teixeira, Ana Maria ; Veríssimo, Manuel T.
Date: 2010
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/14042
Origin: Estudo Geral - Universidade de Coimbra
Subject(s): cardiovascular system; older adults; functional fitness
Description
Background: The weakening of the cardiovascular system associated with aging could be countered by increasing
levels of physical activity and functional fitness. However, inconsistent findings have been found, and the variety of
characteristics of exercise used in previous studies may partly explain that inconsistent results.
Objective: To investigate the training effect of sixteen weeks of moderate intensity, progressive aerobic and strengthbased
training on metabolic health of older women and men.
Methods: Sixty three sedentary individuals (mean (SD) age 76 (8) years) were randomly assigned to control (n = 31) or
exercising (n = 32) groups. The training group was separated to aerobic (n = 18) or strength-based (n = 14). Training
took place three times a week. Subjects agreed not to change their diet or lifestyle over the experimental period.
Results: Exercising group attained after treatment significant differences on body weight, waist circumference, body
mass index, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol/
HDL-cholesterol relationship, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and 6-minute walk distance. The control group only
had significant differences on waist circumference.
Conclusion: The training programs produced significant benefits on metabolic health indicators of sedentary older
women and men.
