Improvement in muscular strength and aerobic capacities in elderly people occurs independently of physical training type or exercise model

OBJECTIVES: Progressive decline of physiological processes with aging is normal. Aging is also associated with decreased functional capacity and onset of many diseases. This study evaluated the changes in physical fitness (PF), body composition (BC), and lipid profile (LP) in elderly men completing different training protocols. METHODS: Fifty-five men (age 60-80 years) were randomized into the following groups: without training, aerobic training on dry land, combined training on dry land, and combined training in water. Training was conducted for 8 weeks, and PF, LP, and BC were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in all parameters; however, combined programs on land or in water were more effective at improving strength and aerobic fitness. Combined exercise produced greater effects on BC and LP and some muscle fitness parameters; however, improvements in muscular and aerobic capacities occurred independently of exercise type or model. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the effects of training occur regardless of training type or model, and are directly associated with training periodization, adherence, and regularity.

A diferença de idade é um fator determinante na modulação do estresse oxidativo muscular induzido pelo exercício agudo

Resumo Este estudo teve por objetivo comparar os efeitos do exercício agudo com carga de trabalho relativa em gastrocnêmio de ratos Wistar com três e 18 meses. Os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos (n = 6): controle de três e 18 meses; exercício de três e 18 meses. Os grupos exercitados foram submetidos a uma única sessão de corrida na esteira com 60 minutos em velocidade de 0,8 km/h e 1,2 km/h. Foram analisados parâmetros do metabolismo (níveis de lactato, conteúdo de glicogênio, níveis de succinato desidrogenase, citocromo c oxidase e de estresse oxidativo (SOD, CAT e GPX). Os resultados mostraram um aumento nos marcadores metabólicos após o exercício agudo independentemente da idade dos animais e similaridade nos danos oxidativos apesar de as enzimas antioxidantes apresentarem modulação diferenciada nos animais mais velhos em comparação com animais jovens.

Abstract The effects of exercise on the generation of reactive oxygen species and the response to muscle oxidative stress determines longevity. This study compares the effects of acute exercise with similar relative workload in rats with 3 and 18 months. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 6): control 3-months; exercise 3-months; control 18-months and exercise 18-months. Exercised groups underwent to a single bout of running with 60 minutes in the speed 0.8 km/h (18 months) and 1.2 km/h (3 months). Metabolic parameters (lactate levels, glycogen content, succinate dehydrogenase levels, cytochrome c oxidase) and oxidative stress (activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase). The results showed an increase in metabolic markers after acute exercise regardless of the age and similarity in oxidative damage even if the antioxidant enzymes are age-dependent. These results suggest that the effects of acute exercise at moderate intensity, affects the metabolism independent of age, and, that the differential response in enzymatic antioxidant system between groups do not promote protection against oxidative damage.

Este estudio ha tenido como objetivo comparar los efectos del ejercicio agudo con carga de trabajo relativamente similar en el gastrocnemio de ratas Wistar con 3 y 8 meses. Se separó a los animales en cuatro grupos (n = 6): control de 3 y 18 meses, y ejercicio de 3 y 18 meses. Se sometió a los grupos de ejercicio a una sola sesión de carrera en la cinta durante 60 minutos con una velocidad de 0,8 km/h y 1,2 km/h. Se analizaron algunos parámetros del metabolismo (niveles de lactato, contenido de glucógeno, niveles de succionato-deshidrogenasa, citocromo c-oxidasa e de estrés oxidativo [superóxido-dismutasa, catalasa y glutatión-peroxidasa]). Los resultados mostraron un aumento de los marcadores metabólicos después del ejercicio agudo independientemente de la edad de los animales y la similitud de los daños oxidativos aunque las enzimas antioxidantes presentan modulación diferenciada en animales viejos en comparación con animales jóvenes.