Estudos Interdisciplinares Sobre O Envelhecimento · Aug 19, 2026
Effects of Participation in a Physical Exercise Program on Muscle Strength and Cardiorespiratory Capacity in Older Adults Over Three Years
By Elias A, Barón C, Mota RPDS
Aging is a natural, progressive, and irreversible process. The main changes associated with this process include reductions in muscle mass and strength and a decline in cardiorespiratory capacity; these factors affect the functional fitness of older adults. With the substantial growth of the older population worldwide and in Brazil, studies focusing on older adults in different age groups become important, especially for the oldest old. Thus, this study aimed to analyze upper and lower limb strength and cardiorespiratory capacity in older adults over three years of participation in a university outreach project that offers different types of physical exercise. The sample consisted of 40 participants aged 60 years or older, stratified into three age groups. The tests used in the study were from the Senior Fitness Test battery. The results indicated a significant improvement in lower limb strength over the period analyzed, regardless of age group, as well as differences in upper limb strength and cardiorespiratory capacity between age groups.