Effects of six months of two different load training programs in elderly people

The aim of this study is to investigate two different physical activities programs. Five hundred sixty five voluntaries enabled physical activities, 164 male and 401 female, participated at this study 70,1±6,35 age, 157,4±7,8 high, 73,1±12 body weight, 29,5±4,4 BMI, were randomly divided in two groups Both groups followed the same weekly frequency and training period. The only difference between groups consisted in different training load. One group performed for the same exercise high load training (HLG) 100% more than the low load group (LLG). After six months of training the LLG did not show any difference in body weight and BMI, whereas HLG showed a significant decrease in both parameters body weight: -3,7% p<0,001 and BMI -1,8% p<0,001 Regarding the muscular flexibility assessed with finger to tip floor test the LLG group showed an increase of 19,39& p<0,001 while HLG of 30,49% p<0 001. The balance improved in both groups: 33,95% p<0,001 in the LLG group, 41,4% p<0,001 in the HLG group. Considering the leg extensor muscle strength assessed with stand chair test, the LLG group showed an increase of 26,24% p<0,001 and of 34,69% p<0,001 in the HLG group. These results showed that the improvement is correlated with load training according with the population features of elderly people. In conclusion it can be assumed that the physical activity is the most important factor as a countermeasure to aging process and to improve the quality of life.