title: Effects of eight weeks of functional training in the functional autonomy of elderly women: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of practical training on the functional autonomy of the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 52 elderly women, 65.42±10.31 years, 65.29±11.30 kg body mass, 1.58±0.07 height, 26.30±4.52 body mass index, 86.48±10.96 cm waist circumference. These elderly women received a specific functional training protocol where their functional autonomy was assessed at three specific times (0, 10 and 20 sessions). The evaluation consisted of a set of five tests defined by the Latin-American Development Group for the Elderly (GDLAM) to determine the functional autonomy of the elderly: walk 10 meters (C10m); stand up from a chair and walk straightaway (SUCWA); dress and undress a T-shirt (DUT); stand up from a sitting position (SUSP); stand up from a lying position (SULP). In each test, the time taken to complete the task was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences in all functional autonomy tests after 20 training sessions: C10m (pre: 8.10±1.27; post: 7.55±1.10); SUCWA (pre: 40.98±2.77; post: 38.44±2.57); DUT (pre: 13.25±0.88; post: 11.85±0.82); SUSP (pre: 10.74±0.52; post: 8.98±056) and SULP (pre: 3.86±0.37; post: 2.82±0.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was determined that 20 functional training sessions were enough to improve the functional autonomy of elderly women. However, we believe that higher volume and intensity of training could be interesting alternatives for even stronger results in future interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health of the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Dihogo G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: DE Matos
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health of the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mauro L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mazini Filho
authors.affiliation: Campus Florestal, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Viçosa, Florestal, Brazil.|Institute of Biomedicine, University of Leon, Leon, Spain.
authors.forename: Osvaldo C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, University of Leon, Leon, Spain.|Department of Physical Education, Campus Viçosa, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: DE Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: DE Oliveira Venturini
authors.affiliation: Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil.|Scientific Sport, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Marzo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: DA Silva-Grigoletto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil - dihogogmc@hotmail.com.|Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Aidar
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016387:Women's Health