Integrated influence of aerobic exercises and aditional body balance training on senior women’s physical abilities

Considering the increasing number of elderly people, it is necessary to look for the ways to comprehensively analyze significance of physical activity for the health and life quality of elderly people. Researches are necessary to be carried out aiming to disclose an impact of physical activity on elderly women’s physical capacity and health. In Lithuania, studies on elderly women’s physical activity and health condition are carried out (Gaigalienė, 1999; Toliušienė, Šeškevičius, 2004), but the issues concerning physical activity and health related physical capacity ties are still under discussion. For this reason, this paper deals with integrated impact of aerobic exercises for senior women’s physical abilities, as well as with the motives reinforcing to increase own physical activity and to improve health. The aim of the work was to evaluate the influence of aerobic and Les Mills Body Balance exercises complexes, performed in health club, on senior women’s body development, physical fitness and functional capacity indices change. The content of pedagogical experiment was comprised of specially elaborated for the research program of aerobic exercises for women, attending aerobic sessions at a health club. 20 women from 40 to 50 years old participated in the experiment. They were randomly split into homogenous groups – C and E. The members of both groups three times per week were carrying out special aerobic workouts, which used to be updated every 3 months. Besides, the experimental group members used to have additional workouts once a week following Les Mills Body Balance training program. The first body development and physical fitness testing of the investigated was carried out in the beginning of January, the second one – at the end of June. The following body development indices were under investigation: height (cm), body mass (kg), chest circumference (cm), waist circumference (cm), hip circumference (cm), thigh circumference (cm), calf circumference (cm); body mass index was calculated (BMI). For the evaluation of women’s physical fitness and functional capacity, the following tests were applied: dynamic force endurance test of rectus abdominis muscle – sit-ups (times in 30 s); test for evaluation of static balance standing on the front of one foot (s); test for shoulder joints flexibility evaluation, lying on the chest and raising up hands (cm); side pass test (cm); push-ups – bending and stretching hands on plain, supporting by hands and knees; squats (t/30 s); resting heart rate; evaluation of circulatory system functional capacity by Ruffier. Body development indices of the women, having carried out aerobic exercises three times a week with one additional Body Balance complex of exercises, used to increase more in comparison to the indices of women, having participated only in aerobic exercises program. The greatest change was established in E group women’s body mass decrease, in average from 70.2 to 67.5 kg. All body development and functional capacity indices of senior women, who attended six months duration aerobic classes, had a tendency to increase. For C group women, having attended only aerobic classes, statistically significant change of increase was recorded only in standing on front of one foot test, while for E group women, who attended aerobic classes with additional Body Balance program exercises, physical fitness results increased more than for C group investigated, and statistically significant changes were established in standing on front of one foot test and stick elevation up lying on chest tests results (p<0.001 and p