Interventions to Improve Body Composition, Upper and Lower Extremity Muscle Strength, and Balance Ability of Older Female Adults: An Intervention Study

Wei-Yang Huang and Cheng-En Wu
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Wei-Yang Huang: Physical Education, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Taipei 11464, Taiwan
Cheng-En Wu: Ph.D. Program of Technology Management, Chung Hua University, Hsinchu 30012, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to understand the effects of a moderate-intensity physical activity program on the changes observed in the body composition, upper and lower extremity muscle strength, as well as balance in elderly female adults in order to evaluate sarcopenia. In this study, 30 healthy elderly females were recruited and were randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. The experimental group engaged in a moderate-intensity physical activity program twice a week for 8 weeks. Using a body composition analyzer, the senior fitness test, and handgrip strength and gait speed tests, all participants were tested in pre- and post-tests. The results of the study revealed changes in the overall body composition in the experimental group, with significant decreases in body mass index, body fat percentage, and body fat mass and substantial increases in the basal metabolic rate and skeletal muscle mass, while the upper and lower extremity muscle strength and balance ability also showed significant improvements. The moderate-intensity physical activity program also increased upper limb handgrip strength and lower limb gait speed, showing that the plan was able to effectively evaluate sarcopenia. The study concluded that using upper limb handgrip strength and lower limb walking speed to evaluate sarcopenia are useful diagnostic tools. Moderate-intensity physical activity is effective for improving muscle strength and reducing sarcopenia.

Keywords: elderly female; moderate-intensity physical activity; sarcopenia; body composition; interventions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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