title: Aerobic resistance, functional autonomy and quality of life (QoL) of elderly women impacted by a recreation and walking program.
abstract: 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 1h, during 4 months. The results found revealed significant improvement for the EG at the aerobic resistance (Δ%=29.06%, p=0.0001), functional autonomy (Δ%=-27.15%, p=0.0001) and QoL (Δ%=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.
authors.affiliation: Stricto Sensu Post-graduation Program in Human Motricity Sciences of Castelo Branco University, Av. Salvador Allende 6 700, Recreio, 22 780-160, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. zeferifraga@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fraga
authors.forename: Samária Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cader
authors.forename: Márcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Tania S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Giani
authors.forename: Estélio H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Dantas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D011998:Recreation; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*