Body weight multicomponent program improves power and functional capacity responses in older adults: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of multicomponent training with body weight on functional capacity response and power in aging persons. Twenty-seven active older women were assigned for convenience to control (active CG) or multicomponent training groups (MTG). The two groups exercised for 10 weeks, the active CG carried out the usual activities of the community service program, while the MTG followed a multicomponent training program. The countermovement and squat jump height (cm), medicine ball throwing distance (cm), time (s) to complete the tests: chair stand, timed up and go, and stair ascent and descent with 8 steps, and the total number of repetitions during 30 s of the tests: chair stand and arm curl were evaluated before (baseline) and after (post-training) the training period. For all analyses, we used estimation statistics, which focus on the effect size of the experiment/intervention, as opposed to significance testing. Changes over 10 weeks showed a large effect (d, >0.8) favoring the multicomponent training group compared to the active control group for all functional capacity performance and power variables (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, body weight multicomponent training is effective for improving basic functional capacity and upper and lower limb power abilities.

Keywords: Aging; Multicomponent training; Muscular power; Physical functional performance; Women.