Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Department of Corrective Exercises and Sports Injuries, faculty of physical education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
2 Department of Sports Biomechanics and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. (Orcid Code: 0000-0003-1333-6323)
3 Department of Sport Biomechanics and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
Abstract
Background: The present study investigated the effectiveness and durability of a combined exercise program on strength, endurance, speed, agility, flexibility, and quality of life in sedentary older adults.
Methods: In this randomized control trial, 27 older adults participated, including 13 people in the training group (TG; six women and seven men) and 14 individuals in the control group (CG; six women and eight men). Quality of life, agility, flexibility, speed, and lower limb muscle endurance and strength were evaluated at the pretest and post-test stages and two months after the completion of the measurements at the post-test stage. The TG performed the combined exercises (strength + functional training) for eight weeks, three sessions per week.
Results: The study results revealed a significant difference between both groups at the post-test stage in speed (p < 0.001), flexibility (p = 0.04), lower limb muscle strength (p = 0.002), and endurance (p < 0.001), agility (p=0.001), quality of life in the physical (p < 0.001) and mental (p < 0.001) components. Also, the study results showed a significant difference between groups at the follow-up stage in the variables of speed (p < 0.001), flexibility (p = 0.03), strength (p = 0.001), and endurance (p < 0.001), agility (p < 0.001), quality of life in the physical (p = 0.03) and mental (p = 0.04) components.
Conclusion: According to the findings, the combined exercise program can durably improve the functional capacity and quality of life of older adults.
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