Abstract
The objectives were to analyze the effect of a gerontogymnastics program on functional ability and fitness on overweight and obese older woman and to understand if sarcopenia mediates its effect. This randomized controlled trial involved 216 overweight and obese women. The experimental group (EG) carried out 12 weeks of a gerontogymnastics program. The assessment was of gait speed, cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity, and muscle strength. EG showed significant improvements in almost every test. When the effect of training was adjusted by gait speed, the improvement of the 6 min walk test (MWT) for the trained group was no longer significant (p = 0.127). The improvement of the 6 MWT was significantly and positively associated with the 10 m test (β = −10.087). After including the 10-m test in the equations, the association between the 6MWT and carrying out the training program decreased but remained significant (β = −19.904). The mediation analysis showed a significant, direct and indirect effect with a significant Sobel test value (z = 6.606 ± 7.733; p = 0.000). These results indicate that a gerontogymnastics program improves functional capacity and fitness; and the effect of a gerontogymnastics program on CRF is mediated by sarcopenia in older women who are overweight and obese.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is a progressive disease that involves the loss of muscle mass and strength [1].It is associated with aging and causes a decrease in functional capacity, increasing the risk of falls and negatively affecting the quality of life, and in many cases may require hospitalization or rehabilitation [2,3]
The training program (TG) showed significant improvements in the 10-m test (p < 0.000), the 6 min walk test (MWT) (p = 0.001), stand from siting test (p < 0.000), the rising from sitting test (p < 0.000), the rise from the floor test (p < 0.000), the t-shirt test (p < 0.000), the GDLAM index (p < 0.000), the extension and flexion elbow test (p < 0.000), and the lift chair 30 s test (p < 0.000)
The control group (CG) experienced a significant decrease in the 10-m test (p < 0.000), 6-min walk test (6 MWT) (p = 0.011), rise from the floor test (p = 0.032), stand-up and go test (p < 0.000), and extension flexion elbow test (p < 0.000), and showed a significant improvement in the rise from the floor test (p = 0.032), they did not show changes in the rest of the tests
Summary
Sarcopenia is a progressive disease that involves the loss of muscle mass and strength [1]. It is associated with aging and causes a decrease in functional capacity, increasing the risk of falls and negatively affecting the quality of life, and in many cases may require hospitalization or rehabilitation [2,3]. Age is associated with loss of mass, strength, and muscle power [7,8,9]. The loss of muscle mass and strength increases the risk of falls and potential fractures and contributes to the loss of
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