Abstract
Exercise has been suggested for older adults. However, there is no consensus whether exercising older adults present better strength levels and body composition indexes compared with inactive counterparts. Our aim was to compare absolute and relative isokinetic muscular knee strength and body composition between exercising and non-exercising older women. Exercising (n = 20) and non-exercising (n = 21) groups were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), body composition, and isokinetic muscular knee strength. BMI (p = 0.005), total body mass (p = 0.01), fat mass (p = 0.01), and fat mass percentage (p = 0.01) were higher in non-exercising women, and the lean mass percentage was lower in the non-exercising group (p = 0.01). Isokinetic extensor and flexor knee muscle strength for dominant limbs presented higher peak torque values when corrected for total body mass (Nm·kg−1) in the exercising group (p < 0.05). Exercising older women presented better body composition and higher strength relative to total body mass, but not maximum absolute strength.
Highlights
Increasing life expectancy elevates the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases associated with aging, such as diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, cancer, and obesity [1]
There were no significant differences in age, height or lean mass between groups (Table 1)
Fat mass, total body mass, fat mass percentage, and body mass index (BMI) were higher in the non-exercising group (NEG) and the lean mass percentage was lower in the NEG compared to the exercising group (EG) (Table 1)
Summary
Increasing life expectancy elevates the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases associated with aging, such as diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, cancer, and obesity [1]. Obesity may contribute substantially to disability and chronic diseases by impairing an individual’s ability to perform independently the activities of daily living, and compromise quality of life [2]. For good quality of life, it is essential that older adults have a good body composition (e.g., low fat mass percentage) and muscular strength [2]. Lean mass and 1.5–5.0% strength per year in individuals older than 50 years. This muscle mass loss is a multifactorial process characterized by a reduced number of muscle fibers as a consequence of Sports 2019, 7, 19; doi:10.3390/sports7010019 www.mdpi.com/journal/sports
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