Scientific evidence about the effects of resisted, aerobic and flexibility training and their chronic adaptations in the health of the elderly

Abstract

Objective: To analyze, through a systematic review, the effects of resistance, aerobic and flexibility training and their chronic adaptations in the health of the elderly. Methods: This is a systematic literature review study, which departed from the PICo strategy for formulating the guiding question and followed the PRISMA Flow recommendations, carried out in the Web of Science, SciELO, BVS and Trip databases using the descriptors: Elderly, Exercise and Flexibility, as well as their translations into Spanish and English, according to DeCS and MeSh. Results. The sample in the studies ranged from 17 to 420 elderly men and women, with 90.9% of the studies evaluating flexibility in different interventions. According to the results, it can be observed in relation to the type of study that the most used was the randomized clinical trial (RCT) with 21.42%, followed by Case Control and experimental study with 17.85%. Taking into account the Exercise Protocol: Applied Tests, the most used was the flexibility test (Bank of Wells - Sit and Reach) with 54.54%. It is noteworthy that 100% of the studies reported significant improvements in resistance training in flexibility, strength, and balance and body composition of the elderly, with positive impacts on their functional autonomy. Conclusion: physical exercise for the elderly, as long as it is performed within adequate volume and intensity and respecting the principles of sports training, act significantly in improving the components of physical conditioning, improving their functional autonomy, providing healthy aging.