Evolução de variáveis fisiológicas e análise de eficiência (DEA) de mulheres senescentes submetidas a um programa prolongado de atividades físicas

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify the evolution of the physiologic variable corporal mass index , muscular force , flexibility , balance and aerobic conditioning (VO2 max) of elderly women submitted to a long physical activity program and to verify the women s efficiency during the program, through the Data envelopment Analysis (DEA). METHOD: 120 women participated, with ages between 50 and 79, average age 60,87 + 7,81 years old, not institutionalized and resident in Sao Carlos. Eight evaluations were accomplished during two years, being one before the beginning of the program of physical activities and the other ones, in intervals of approximately three months. In all the evaluations the following variables were measured: blood pressure, heart frequency, weigh and height (for the calculation of the Index of corporal mass) muscular forces, flexibility, balance (static and dynamic) and response to physical effort (VO2 max). Each section of physical activity involved prolongation mioface passive exercises of the main muscular groups, exercises of aerobic resistance, power and resistance, coordination activities, agility and flexibility, breathing exercises, relaxation and hydratation in two moments of the session. The data regarding the evolution of the physiologic variables were analyzed through the method of Bonferroni and the Method of Friedman, respecting a significance level of α = 0,05. With reference to the analyses of the efficiency of the participants, were considered the individuals that participated of the eight evaluations and had frequency superior to 74%, but for the analyses of the DEA, were used the third, the fifth and seventh evaluation, since the control of the senior s attendance was concluded by the teachers every six months. It is interesting to note that for the general analysis of the program spreadsheets with the total number of sessions were built with the total number of sessions accomplished during eighteen months, total time of each exercise and the attendance of the elderly women during the whole program. RESULT: There was an improvement in all the variables studied (IMC, force, flexibility, balance and VO2 max), but it was statistically significant in the variables flexibility (p = 0,000), balance (p = 0,000) and VO2 max (p = 0,0004). With reference to the efficiency, it was possible to observe that most of the women were efficient (they reached an efficiency level above 60%) along the program of exercises and also in all the evaluation studied (third, fifth and seventh evaluations). Besides, it was observed the necessity of alterations in the program of physical activity, so that, a portion still larger reaches higher efficiency levels. CONCLUSION: Through the analyses of the results it was possible to verify that a long physical activity program is able to alter positively the physiologic variables of the elderly women and that they were efficient along this program of exercises.