Influence of multicomponent exercise program or self-selected physical activity on physical, mental, and biochemical health indicators of older women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare physical, mental, and biochemical health indicators of 48 older women (67 ± 1 year) who practiced multicomponent exercise program (ME, n = 25) and self-selected physical activity (PA, n = 23) for 6 months. It was an observational study, which aimed to relate a prospective intervention. Displacement speed, lower limb (LL) power, functional capacity, body composition, biochemical profile, physical activity levels (PAL), sedentary behavior (SB), quality of life (QoL), and mental illness risk (MIR) were evaluated. ME presented better values compared to the PA in the gait speed (p = 0.001, large ES), aerobic capacity (p = 0.0001, large ES), agility/dynamic balance (p = 0.0001, large ES), LL flexibility (p = 0.0003, large ES), UL flexibility (p = 0.04, large ES), upper limb (UL) strength (p = 0.07, moderate ES), Total cholesterol (p = 0.009, large ES), triglycerides (p = 0.003, large ES), creatinine (p = 0.007, large ES), glycated hemoglobin (p= 0.007, large ES), and lower mean glucose value (p = 0.008, large ES). ME was more efficient than PA to improve indicators of gait speed, and functional capacity, regulate glycated hemoglobin, blood glucose, and serum creatinine. Thys study also brings practical applications for coaches, which could adapt and use creativity to develop different types of systematized ME, aiming to enhance positive adaptations in the older people at multilevel outcomes.