Citation

de Souza Santos C, Cader S, Dantas E, Moreira M. Biomed. Hum. Kinet. 2010; 2(1): 93-96.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Versita Publications)

DOI

10.2478/v10101-010-0023-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Study aim : To evaluate the effects of the 'Menopause-in-Shape Programme' on physical fitness of elderly women. Material and methods : A group of 323 elderly women lodged in the House for the Elderly participated in a 10-month programme (dancing or walking) and formed the experimental group. Another group of 289 elderly women (control) were sedentary throughout the study. All of them aged 60 - 89 years. Both groups were subjected to the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test battery: chair stand test (CST), arm curl test (ACT), 6-min walk test (6-WT), 2-min step test (2-ST), chair sit and reach test (SRT), scratch test (SCT) and 8-foot up and go test (8-UG). Results : In the experimental group, improvements were noted in CST (by 11.7%; p Conclusions : The Menopause-in-Shape Programme is an efficient tool in improving physical fitness of elderly women even if no somatic effects can be expected.