Comparative study of the effects of two programs of physical exercises in flexibility and balance of healthy elderly individuals with and without major depression

Abstract

Objective: To assess flexibility and balance in healthy elderlysubjects with or without major depression, by means of two differentprograms: aerobic exercises and flexibility and balance exercises.Methods: A randomized, double-blind controlled study in which eachsample was the control of itself. Research subjects were 19 healthyelderly individuals, aged between 60 and 90 years, of both genders,referred to the Department of Geriatrics of the Hospital das Clínicasda Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, with orwithout the diagnosis of major depression, and sedentary or thathad not engaged in physical activity for at least 6 months. Results:Subjects with major depression, as well as those without depression,showed significant improvement in flexibility and balance, especiallyin the group that did aerobic exercises. Conclusion: The results ofthis investigation reinforce the relevance of physical exercises for the elderly with major depression, as this is an important tool for treating and following-up this group of patients.

Keywords

• Exercise
• Aged
• Pliability
• Postural balance
• Depression