General exercises vs. walking training in the motor skill of healthful elderly persons

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the effects of two programs of physical activities (general exercises and walking training) in manual motor skill of healthful sedentary elderly persons.Thirty elderly persons were recruited (12 men, 18 women), average age of 68.6 years old, sedentary, non-institutionalized. They had their motor skill assessed through a graphic test. The subjects were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 10 each GA carried out a general exercising program. GB took part in a walking training program. GC acted as the control. GA and GB exercised for four months, twice a week, within a one-hour session, presenting maximum heart rate between 40-70 percent. The graphic test was applied again and the number of lines and the percentage of correct lines were extracted from it...