Evaluation of the balance of elderly practicers of different sports modalities

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The natural process of aging leads the systems of the human body to decline in function. There is a consensus in the literature that physical activity directed at the elderly promotes positive effects on maintaining their health, promoting reduction of muscle mass loss, flexibility gain and increased cardiorespiratory resistance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the balance of elderly women practicing different sports. METHODS: A sample of elderly women from different groups of sports activities, and elderly residents in a long-term institution. All groups had 15 volunteers, namely: capotherapy (GCa), water aerobics (GWA), gymnastics (GG), strength training (GST) and control group (GC). The volunteers had their body mass, height, waist cirtormetry and hip evaluated. The balance evaluation of the volunteers was performed through the unipodal balance test with and without visual restriction, in this order. Differences between groups were verified by one way ANOVA, p <0,05. RESULTS: The strength training activities had a positive effect on balance without visual restriction, while capotherapy volunteers showed better performance on balance with visual restriction. CONCLUSION: Activities that encompass several modalities seem to be more efficient to maintain an adequate balance of the elderly.