期刊名称：Pensar en Movimiento: Revista de Ciencias del Ejercicio y la Salud
印刷版ISSN：1409-0724
电子版ISSN：1659-4436
出版年度：2014
卷号：12
期号：2
页码：16-30
DOI：10.15517/pensarmov.v12i2.16784
摘要：Hernandez, O. J. & Ramirez, F. A. (2014). Structured exercise program is feasible and improves functional capacity among older adults in Puerto Rico. PENSAR EN MOVIMIENTO: Revista de Ciencias del Ejercicio y la Salud, 12 (2), 1-15. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor affecting overall health and functional capacity among older adults. In this study we evaluated functional capacity in 22 older adults in Puerto Rico (mean age ± standard deviation = 73.3 ± 8.2 years) before, during and after eight weeks participation in a structured exercise program. Functional capacity was evaluated using a field test battery (body composition, flexibility, coordination, agility and balance, muscle endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance) validated for this population. Also, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) and blood lipid levels were evaluated in a sub-sample (n = 7). A repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes in functional capacity before, during and after the exercise program. A paired t-test was used to evaluate changes in VO2max and lipids before and after the program. Flexibility improved significantly during the exercise program (51.6 ± 12.2 vs. 57.7 ± 8.1 cm, p=0.04) and this change was sustained at the end of the program (54.4 ± 10.2 cm). At eight weeks into the program, time in the agility and balance test improved by two seconds and muscle endurance improved by five repetitions (p0.05). These results suggest that participation in a structured exercise program for eight weeks can positively impact factors that improve movement capacity in older adults.
