Effects of different physical exercise programs on the anthropometric, cardiovascular, metabolic, and strength variables of elderly participating in health care programs

Objective: Effects of different physical exercise programs on health variables of the elderly participating in health care programs.Methods: Elderly (n=60) allocated into groups: Resistance exercises in open-air gyms – GT1 (n = 17); Aerobic and localized exercises - GT2 (n = 11); Resistance exercises at GT3 gym (n = 17); Control group - CG (n = 15). Anthropometric, cardiovascular, metabolic, and strength variables were evaluated before and after 16 weeks of intervention.Results: The GT1 shows a small effect for fat percentage, WHR, and ULS and a medium effect for LLS. For the GT2, there was a large effect on LLS. For the GT3, there was a medium effect for ULS and a large effect for LLS. There is a small effect for glycemia in GT1, a medium effect for glycemia and triglycerides for GT2, a small effect for total cholesterol for GT3, and a large effect for glycemia in CG, increasing this analyte. There are large effects for SBP in GT2, a small effect for SBP, DBP, and HR in GT3, and small effects for SBP and HR in CG. The variables TG, LLS, and ULS were the ones that differed most in each type of stimulus.Conclusion: The three methods proved to be efficient, but with particularities that may reflect the choice of one over another due to health conditions, objectives to be achieved, or characteristics of the patient at the time of their choice by the prescriber.