european college of sport science

Friday, June 26th, 2009
Discussion: The results have shown an improvement in the plasmatic IgA during the exercise period that is in accordance with others
[1,2,3], and maintenance in the salivary IgA concentration and secretion rates, in both women and men. Aerobic exercise seems to have
been effective in promoting IgA immunity and in protecting against the deterioration in the sIgA values that occurred in control group.
Regarding the plasma IgG and the IgM concentration results, a positive effect due to the moderate intensity aerobic exercise protocol
used could not be confirmed because positive changes also occurred in the control group. Finally, one would emphasize that women
and men, submitted to the same physical exercising programs, have a similar chronic immune response for the four variables analyzed.
References
1. Akimoto T et al. (2003). Effects of 12 months of exercise training on salivary secretory IgA levels in elderly subjects, Br J S Med, 37:76-79.
2. Gleeson M et al. (2000). Immune status and respiratory illness for elite swimmers during a 12-week training cycle, Int J S Med, 21:302-
307.
3. Karacabey K et al. (2005). The effects of exercise on the immune system and stress hormones in sportswomen, Neuro Endocr Letters,
26:361-366.
IS STRENGTH TRAINING AS EFFECTIVE AS AEROBIC TRAINING ON THE CONDITIONING AND DECONDITIONING OF
FUNCTIONAL FITNESS IN OLDER ADULTS?
MARTINS, R., VERISSIMO, M.T., TEIXEIRA, A.M.
UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA, FACULTY OF SPORT SCIENCES AND PHYSICA
Introduction: Environmental factors play an essential role in the aging process, which confers importance to the physical exercise training.
The aim of the current study is to determine if a strength exercise program is as effective as a cardiovascular exercise program to promote
chronic outcomes in the functional fitness including upper and lower strength, upper and lower flexibility, aerobic endurance, and
velocity, agility and dynamic balance. Additionally, the effects of the detraining are also studied.
Methods: Seventy two women (76.72±8.38 years old) and forty six men (74.61±6.43 years old), aged at least 65 years-old, were randomly
separated into control, strength and aerobic group and were evaluated three times. They all passed a medical examination and received
permission from their physicians to be included in the study. Between evaluations a sixteen-week period elapsed. The Senior Fitness Test
battery [1, 2] was used to evaluate the functional fitness. The intensity of the cardiovascular training varied between moderate and vigorous,
with a frequency of 3 times per week, during a 16-weeks period. The moderate strength training was based on eight exercises for
the major muscular groups, with 1 set of 8 repetitions increasing progressively to 3 sets of 15 reps. Factorial ANCOVA and a MANOVA,
with post hoc test of Bonferroni were used.
Results: On the 6-minute walk test, 100% of the participants in the three groups were below the percentile 50 of the published norms. This
lower performance on the tests suggests that participants were unfit. After the exercise period, control group did not show any improvement
in any one of the six functional fitness parameters. Contrarily, strength exercising group improved all functional fitness variables
during exercise the same occurring on aerobic exercising group, with exception for the upper flexibility, in both sexes, and the lower
flexibility, in women. After the detraining period, aerobic group only maintains gains in the lower strength and upper flexibility, while
strength group maintains gains in the lower flexibility.
Discussion: The key findings are that both specific aerobic and strength exercising programs are able to improve the various components
of the functional fitness of older women and men, and the positive effects remain beyond the end of the training period in some functional
fitness parameters.
Presented data sustain the idea that strength exercise alone is as effective as cardiovascular training in developing the physical parameters
that support the functional mobility in later years. Moreover, even considering that after a detraining period some functional fitness
parameters still raised, negative effects of interrupting exercise programs are visible.
References
1. Rikli RE & Jones CJ (1999). J of Aging and Phys Activ, 7: 129-61.
2. Rikli RE & Jones CJ (2001). Senior Fitness Test Manual. Champaign IL, HK.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ONE-LEG STANDING TIME WITH EYES OPEN AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION AMONG COMMU-
NITY-DWELLING ELDERLY FEMALES
MURATA, S.
NISHIKYUSHU UNIVERSITY
PURPOSE : One-leg standing ability and its related factors have been studied in elderly subjects. In past studies on muscular strength in
the upper and lower limbs, only part of the muscles were examined. To examine factors involved in one-leg standing, it is necessary to
measure and evaluate total body function. In this study, we measured the muscular strength of the lower limbs, foot grip, and plantar
sensibility, which were considered to affect one-leg standing, and evaluated the relationship between these parameters and one-leg
standing time with eyes open. SUBJECTS : The subjects were 56 community-dwelling elderly women with an average age of 74.8 ± 6.3
years. METHODS : The isometric contraction was measured as the muscular strength of the lower limbs using Hand-held dynamometer,
and the foot grip was measured using a foot grip meter. The plantar sensibility was evaluated using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments.
The attention function was using Trail making test - Part A. These measurements were performed in the dominant leg. ANALYSIS : The
relationships between one-leg standing time and other body measurement values were examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Multiple regression analysis (stepwise method) was performed using body sway on one-leg standing as the objective variable, and
factors affecting one-leg standing time were extracted. RESULTS : One-leg standing time with eyes open was significantly correlated with
foot grip (0.61), attention function (-0.45) , femoral quadriceps muscle strength (0.38), and grip strength (0.27). Factors involved in body
sway in the one-leg standing position extracted by stepwise regression analysis were the foot grip (0.49) and attention function (-0.35).
Standing balance was stabilized as the foot-gripping force and attention function increased. CONCLUSIONS : These results suggested
that foot functions, such as foot grip, affected body sway in the one-leg standing position rather than the strength of major muscles in the
lower limbs, such as femoral quadriceps muscles. Further, the attention function of elderly women may be directly involved in duration of
standing on one leg.
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