Effect of multicomponent exercise on aerobiccapacity in non-institutionalized older adults: a pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24054/afdh.v17i1.4594Keywords:
multicomponent exercise, aerobic capacity, older adults, active aging, blood pressureAbstract
Population aging is associated with a decline in functional aerobic capacity and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among older adults. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an eight-week supervised multicomponent exercise program on functional aerobic capacity and selected cardiovascular parameters in non-institutionalized older adults from Pamplona, Colombia. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was conducted with a single group of 12 participants (8 women and 4 men; mean age: 75.7 years, standard deviation: 6.6 years). The intervention consisted of three 60-minute sessions per week, including muscle-strengthening, aerobic, and flexibility exercises. Functional aerobic capacity was assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and physiological variables were recorded before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant increase of 57.7 m in the distance covered during the 6MWT (p = 0.006), as well as significant reductions of 7.7 mmHg in resting systolic blood pressure (p = 0.034) and 12.8 mmHg in post-exercise systolic blood pressure (p = 0.036). These findings indicate that a supervised multicomponent exercise program is an effective, safe, and low-cost strategy for improving functional aerobic capacity and selected cardiovascular parameters, thereby promoting active aging, functional independence, and quality of life among community-dwelling older adults.
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