Aerobic resistance, functional autonomy and quality of life (QoL) of elderly women impacted by a recreation and walking program

The present study had as a goal to analyze the impact of a physical activity program (recreation and walking) over the aerobic resistance, the functional autonomy and the quality of life of elderly women. To this experimental study the elderly women (65 +/- 6.40 years old) were randomly separated in experimental group (EG, n = 31) and a control group (CG, n = 28). A 6-min-walking test (aerobic resistance); a protocol of autonomy evaluation of the Latin-American Group for Maturity Development (functional autonomy), and the WHO QoL-old tests were utilized. The intervention happened with classes of recreation and walking practice, three times a week, for 1 h, during 4 months. The results found revealed significant improvement for the EG at the aerobic resistance (Delta% = 29.06%, p = 0.0001), functional autonomy (Delta% = -27.15%, p = 0.0001) and QoL (Delta% = 15.47%, p = 0.0001). It was concluded that the systematic physical exercise interferes in a positive way at the autonomy, aerobic resistance and QoL of the elderly women. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.