Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent the most frequent cause of death among the elderly population. Hypertension, unfavorable lipid profile, obesity and physical inactivity are among the main risk factors for CVD. In contrast, mortality from CVD is inversely related to levels of physical activity, and is lower in individuals who exercise and have higher functional fitness levels. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Heart Association have recommended 20-30 min of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic training for the elderly, preferably every day or at least 3 days a week in the case of vigorous exercise.The same organizations also suggest the inclusion of resistance training in order to improve functional fitness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare different exercise modalities in long-term changes of CVD risk factors and physical fitness among older adults.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
66
Both training programs were of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, three days per week for nine months.
Maia City Council facilities
Maia, Portugal
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Descriptive frequency of the number of cardiovascular risk factors aggregated in each participant. The risk factors considered were: (i) hypertension; (ii) obesity; and (iii) dyslipidemia.
Time frame: one year
Risk of Falls
Descriptive frequency of the number of participants who took ≥12 seconds to complete the Timed Get-up and Go test, and those who took less than 12 seconds (low risk of falling).
Time frame: One year
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