european college of sport science

Friday, June 26th, 2009
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GENDER AND PHYSICALITY IN ELDERLY WOMEN
SILVA, P., BOTELHO-GOMES, P., SANTOS, M.P., NOVAIS, C., CARVALHO, J.
FACULTY OF SPORT
Regular physical activity has been described as a co-adjuvant for the prevention of many physical, psychological and social aspects
related to the ageing process. Although the majority of the elderly subjects recognize the importance of regular physical activity for the
functionality and well-being, older people are inactive, being this type of behaviour associated with social impositions and with poor selfperception
of physical fitness and physicality. As a formative construction, physicality, in its broadest sense, explores how the body physically
engages life, and how it can be understood as the physical expression of agency (McDermott,2000). Maintaining functionality and
physicality is currently considered a crucial element for the quality of life and socialization of older people.
Accordingly and considering that bodily experiences lived by elderly women were submitted to a clear regime of discipline and standardisation
of the body that was perceived as a “natural gift” (i.e.grace, frailty), it is extremely important to understand the impact of
regular physical activity on physicality and “body empowerment” of elderly women.
Within this context, the main purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the multicomponent physical activity program to the notion of
physicality.
Methods: This research consisted in a longitudinal evaluation of elderly women (n= 19; mean age=69.5±5.3 years old) living in the area
of Porto, submitted to a multicomponent exercise program of 2 sessions/week, for 10 months.
To understand how elderly women experience their bodies and the gender influence, it was applied semi-structured interviews, focus
groups and depth interviews in different moments of the exercise program: baseline - conduct prior the beginning of training (1st/2nd
week of September), during (after 5 months - 1st/2nd week of February) and at the end of training program (1st/2nd week of July). In order
to inspect the interviews results, content analysis technique and interpretation was applied, after data being processed by the program
QSRNVivo7.
Results: Qualitative analysis before the beginning of exercise program allowed to access physical identity perceptions that reveal a concern
with the body image and with physical limitations.
After training, older women speeches reflect: (i) a better capacity to cope with chronic disease and counter with advancing age; (ii) a
physical repositioning of identities that result in feelings of self-confidence conferred by a more active, agile, balanced and flexible body;
(iii) a clear perception of femininity as socially constructed category.
Conclusion
The results suggest that, a generalized physical activity program can be considered as an important tool for body empowerment and
physicality, witch, in turn, highlights the significance of social body in the commitment to an active life style of elderly women.
Granted by FCT/PTDC/DES/70261/2006.
References
McDermott, L.. Sociology of Sport Journal, 2000. 17: p. 331-363.
EFFECTS OF A FEASIBLE AEROBIC TRAINING ON OLDER WOMEN’S BODY COMPOSITION, BLOOD PRESSURE, PHYSICAL
FITNESS, AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE.
WANDERLEY, F., CARVALHO, J.
UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
INTRODUCTION: Several models have been suggested to explain the interaction between active lifestyles and prevalence of chronic
diseases and their impact on physical fitness, quality of life and morbidity of older adults. According to Jette et al. [1] and Rikli & Jones [2],
all these factors interact each one another. The clinical manifestation of a chronic disease leads to physical fitness decline, which, in turn,
represents enhanced functional limitation that, most of the times, is linked to a tendency on reducing physical activity, functional capacity
and therefore, worsening disease [3]. In this way, it seems important to identify the impact of different types of physical activity in functional
fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in older people. Identifying the type, quantity and intensity of exercise to promote general
and specific benefits to health can lead to better and accurate recommendations for those who begin training program aiming the
improvements on cardiovascular health and on functional ability.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of a moderate walking program, as one of the most accessible and feasible ways of aerobic training for
older adults, on older women’s body composition, blood pressure (BP), physical fitness and perceived health-related quality of life
(HRQOL).
METHODS: Twenty-two older women (71,4±5,9 yrs; BMI= 27,7±2,6) without habitual exercise practice but physically independent were
evaluated in 3 distinct moments, at baseline (M1), after 4 months with no exercise (M2- control period) and, finally, after participated in a 4
months walking program (M3). Subjects walked 3 times/week at progressive duration (15-30 min.) and intensity (50-70% of HRreserve; 4-
5 of CR10 scale). BP, body composition (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry), physical fitness (Senior Fitness Test) and, perceived HRQOL
(Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36) were assessed at each moment. One-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used.
RESULTS: Data demonstrate that: i) to the exception of diastolic BP and upper limb strength, no significant changes occurred in the control
period; ii) After walking training (M3) it was observed: a reduction on systolic (-12,0mmHg, p=0,04) and diastolic (-5,0mmHg, p=0,015) BP,
improvements on emotional role limitation (+29,6, p=0,019) and lower limb strength (+4 reps, p=0,001).
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that a walking program with progressive duration and intensity is able to reduce older women BP,
improve muscle function and emotional dimensions of quality of life. Granted by FCT (PTDC/DES/70261/2006; SFRH/BD/33124/2007).
[1] Jette, A.M., et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 1999. 54(1): p. M3-6.
[2] Rikli, R.E. and C.J. Jones. JAPA, 1999. 7: p. 129-161.
[3] Laukkanen, J.A., et al. Eur Heart J, 2004. 25(16): p. 1428-1437.
EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL TRAINING ON BONE STATUS AND MENTAL HEALTH IN YOUNG AND OLDER WOMEN
KIMURA, Y., HISATOMI, M., OHKI, K., EZAKI, T., SATO, T.
SAGA UNIVERSITY
Benefits of regular exercise on bone mass accretion are greatest during childhood and adolescence when peak bone mass can increase
to the greatest extent. These benefits often accrue into the seventh and even eighth decades of life. The portion of bone mass
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