Effects of group exercise on functional abilities: Differences between physically active and physically inactive women

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Aerobic exercises to music can have a positive effect on functional and motor skills of an exerciser, their health, as well as an aesthetic and socio-psychological component.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of reactive exercising in a group on functional capabilities in physically active and physically inactive women.

METHODS:

A prospective study included 64 healthy women aged 40–60 years. The sample was divided into the experimental group ( $N=$ 36), i.e. physically active women who have been engaged in recreational group exercises at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and the control group ( $N=$ 28), which consisted of physically inactive women. All the participants were monitored using the same protocol before and after the implementation of the research. All women had their height, weight and body mass index measured as well as their spiroergometric parameters determined according to the Bruce protocol.

RESULTS:

A univariate analysis of variance has shown that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in maximum speed, the total duration of the test, relative oxygen consumption, absolute oxygen consumption and ventilation during the final measurement. After the training intervention, the experimental group showed improvements in all the parameters analyzed compared with pretest values.

CONCLUSION:

The recreational group exercise model significantly improves aerobic capacity and functioning of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is essential for women to be involved more in any form of recreational group exercising in order to improve functional capacity and health.

Keywords

Spirometry ergometry exercise cardiorespiratory fitness

1. Introduction

Regular and adequate physical activity prevents the risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity. It also helps to fight cancer, osteoporosis, stress, anxiety, depression and other modern age diseases [1]. Studies have shown that moderate physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%, while the percentage amounts to 27% in people who are significantly physically more active [2, 3]. Group fitness sessions belong to semi-structural cyclical activities and positively affect anthropological characteristics and abilities [4]. Zumba and step aerobics have been incorporated in the work. Only recently has Zumba appeared as a group exercise. According to the definition, it denotes the physical exercises that, along with music, stimulate the activity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems over time. Aerobic exercise with music, can have a positive impact on: functional and motor skills of exercisers, his/her health, aesthetic and socio-psychological component of exercisers [5, 6, 7, 8].

Aerobic capacity is the most accepted measure of functional measures of the cardiovascular system by physiologists. Indicators that are commonly used to evaluate aerobic fitness are absolute and relative oxygen consumption (VO2max, VO2max ml/kg/min). A maximal oxygen consumption, which is a good indicator of aerobic endurance maximum heart rate (HR max) expressed as a percentage, is used for assessing the intensity of an exercise. Thus, 55% of the HRmax is equivalent to the exercise intensity of 40% of VO2max; 70% HR max is equivalent to 60% of VO2max; 85% HR max is 80% of VO2max and 90% HRmax intensity is equivalent to 85% of VO2max [9].

Research on maximum aerobic capacity shows the decline in women who exercise regularly versus less active and inactive women aged 18 to 89. The rate of decline in VO2max with increasing subject group age was the lowest in the non-active women, while it was slightly higher in active women and finally, the highest among women who exercised regularly. When this is expressed as percent decrease from the mean levels at approximately 25 years of age, the rate of decline in VO2max is similar in all three populations. There is no clear relationship between aerobic exercise and the rate of decline in maximal heart rate with age. The results of this transversal study support the hypothesis that, contrary to the dominant opinion, the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity is higher with age, not lower, in women who regularly exercise versus inactive women [10] .

The same hypothesis was again tested in 2002 and this time subjects were longitudinally followed [11]. Seven years later, the results obtained from 7 women with a sedentary lifestyle and 16 physically active women were compared. In the first measurement, VO2max was for about 70% higher in physically active women. In the second measurement, the results obtained by measuring the total body weight, lean body mass and maximal respiratory exchange – did not differ significantly from the results of the first measurement. The absolute rate of decline in VO2max was two times higher in physically active women compared to the rate of decline in VO2max in women with a sedentary lifestyle, but the relative rate of decline in these groups did not differ significantly. Different rates of decline in VO2max were not associated with changes in body weight and heart rate, but in the physically active women group, the relative rate of decline in VO2max is positively associated with a reduction in the volume of physical activity. In women who have held the same levels of physical activity or the level increased, the same trend of dropping in aerobic capacity was manifested with aging, similar to women with a sedentary lifestyle [12, 13].

The main goal of the study was to determine the difference in functional abilities between active women and healthy inactive women after a group exercise program.

2. Methods

A prospective study included 64 healthy women aged 40–60 years. The sample was divided into the first i.e. experimental group ( $N=$ 36) which consisted of physically active women as they have been systematically engaged in recreational group exercises (Zumba, aerobics, Step aerobics, and Pilates) for at least one year at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad. The Control subsample ( $N=$ 28) consists of women who are not engaged in any type of recreational group exercises (inactive women). The subjects of the experimental subsample exercised twice a week for 60 minutes, at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad within the “The Impact of Physical Activity on the Risk Factors in the Working Population” project, financed by the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development. According to the Declaration of Helsinki, the study has been approved by competent ethics committee, conforms to the legal standards and a written informed consent was obtained from all individuals.

The participants of both groups were subjected to the same research protocol. Using anthropometric measurement the following parameters have been measured: Body height (cm); Body weight (kg); and based on that Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and expressed in kg/cm ${}^{2}$ ). For assessing the functional abilities we used maximal spiroergometry test according to the Bruce protocol [14]. The data in the following indicators were obtained:

1.
Forced vital capacity FVC (l) represents the maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after a maximum inhalation,
2.
VO2max (l) – maximal oxygen consumption, which can be defined as the maximum amount of oxygen a person can breathe in from the air and use in peripheral tissues,
3.
VO2 (ml/min/kg) – the relative oxygen consumption,
4.
HRmax (bpm) – a measure of maximum heart rate,
5.
HRmax (bpm) – the value of heart rate during maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)
6.
VE (l/min) – maximum minute ventilation or respiratory minute volume expressed as: VE $=$ VT $\times$ Rf where VT (Tidal volume i.e. the depth of breathing) and Rf (respiratory frequency)
7.
The total time of treadmill exercise test (min) T
8.
Maximum rate achieved while running on a treadmill-Vmax (km/min).

The experimental programme of the group exercising lasted for four months (December 2013, January, February and March 2014). The experimental group exercised twice a week for 60 minutes (120 minutes per week). The number of training sessions in a month was 8, meaning that 32 training session were done continuously, without interruption, throughout the whole programme. Out of the total number of training sessions (32), 10 step aerobics sessions, 12 fitness aerobics sessions and 10 Zumba sessions were done. Each session least 60 minutes separated in 3 main periods. First one is warming up period with low intensity preparation exercise (10 minutes). Second, main period involve continues and interval exercise on 60–80% of maximal heart rate in manner of group exercise program. Final period of training session involve low intensity and stretching exercising for cooling down (5 minutes).

Determining the difference between the experimental and control groups in functional abilities at the initial and final measurement was conducted using multivariate analysis of variance. The following parameters were calculated: f of the univariate f-test, p statistical significance of the univariate f-test, F of the multivariate F-test, P statistical significance of the multivariate F-test. Determining the differences between the groups for each variable was conducted using univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). The testing of differences was performed by using the F-test, while the significance level of difference was expressed as p statistical significance of the differences was tested at the significance level $p<$ 0.05. A two-way repeated measure ANOVA (group x time) was used to test for interactions and main effects for time (initial vs. final) on the dependent variables. ES was classified as follows: $<$ 0.2 was defined as trivial; 0.2–0.6 was defined as small; 0.6–1.2 was defined as moderate; 1.2–2.0 was defined as large; $>$ 2.0 was defined as very large; and $>$ 4.0 was defined as extremely large. All statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc. Version 20.0, Chicago, IL, USA).
3. Results

The experimental group which consisted of physically active women whose average age was 48.11 $\pm$ 6.68 years), whereas the control group consisted of physically inactive women whose average age was 47.18 $\pm$ 7.40). In groups there is a greater dispersion of the results in the displayed variables; however, it is evident that there is no statistically significant difference between them; therefore, they can further be compared in the experimental process.

Table 1
Descriptive characteristics of both groups

	Experimental group		Control group
	$N=$ 36		$N=$ 28
	AM	S	AM	S	P
Age	48.11	6.68	47.18	7.40	0.6070
Body height	166.24	6.30	167.97	6.06	0.2827
Body weight	65.71	6.17	66.33	11.31	0.7826
BMI	23.78	2.28	23.51	3.82	0.7294

AM – arithmetic mean. S – Standard deviation; P – statistical significance of T-test ( $p<$ 0.05).

Analyzing the difference between the experimental and control group in functional abilities at the initial measuring it has been confirmed that there is no statistically significant difference in the overall system of the analyzed variables between the two groups (experimental and control) at the initial measurement. By individually analyzing each variable, it can also be noted that there is no statistically significant difference between the groups (experimental and control) at the initial measurement.

Table 2

Difference between experimental and control group in functional abilities at the initial measuring

Variables	Experimental $N=$ 36		Control $N=$ 28		F	P
	AM	S	AM	S
HR max	173.08	12.19	168.79	12.26	1.95	0.17
Max. Rate	5.62	0.86	5.23	0.70	3.84	0.06
Total time	7.18	1.70	6.70	1.16	1.66	0.20
VO2 relative	27.53	4.11	28.26	4.86	0.42	0.52
VO2 absolute	1.81	0.29	1.84	0.29	0.18	0.67
HR VO2max	168.69	14.19	165.36	12.81	0.95	0.33
VE	63.04	10.95	59.98	12.10	1.12	0.29
FVC	3.70	0.64	3.62	0.58	0.27	0.61
	F $=$ 1.09; P $=$ 0.38

AM – arithmetic mean. S – Standard deviation. f – Univariate f-test. P – Statistical significance of the univariate f-test ( $p<$ 0.05). F – Multivariate F-test. P – statistical significance of the multivariate F-test ( $p<$ 0.05); AM – arithmetic mean. S – Standard deviation. f – Univariate f-test. P – Statistical significance of the univariate f-test ( $p<$ 0.05). F – Multivariate F-test. P –statistical significance of the multivariate F-test ( $p<$ 0.05); Max. Rate – Maximum rate achieved while running on the treadmill-Vmax (km/min); Total time – The total time of treadmill exercise test (min); VO2 relative – The total volume of oxygen consumed related to body weight (ml/kg/min); VO2 absolute – The total volume of oxygen consumed (l/min); HR VO2max – Heart rate during maximal oxygen consumption (bpm); VE – Respiratory minute volume (l/min); FVC – Forced vital capacity (l).

Analyzing the difference between the experimental and control group in functional abilities at the final measuring it has been noticed that there are statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups at the final measuring $p=$ 0.02 ( $p<$ 0.05). In variables: HRmax ( $p=$ 0.05), maximum rate ( $p=$ 0.00), the total duration of the test ( $p=$ 0.00), VO2max-relative ( $p=$ 0.03), VO2max-absolute ( $p=$ 0.00) and VE ( $p=$ 0.00), it can be observed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups at the final measuring. By analyzing AM in the variable HRmax, it can be noted that the subjects from the experimental group (AM $=$ 174.42) had higher values at the final measuring compared to the subject of the control group (AM $=$ 168.75). By analyzing AM in the variable maximal rate, it is evident that the subjects from the experimental group (AM $=$ 5.93) achieved better results upon the final measurement compared to the control group (AM $=$ 5.18). Total test time has been increased in favor of the experimental group (AM $=$ 8.06) compared to the control group (AM $=$ 6.33). In the variable VO2max – relative, maximal oxygen consumption increased in favor of the experimental group (AM $=$ 30.04) compared to the control group (AM $=$ 27.52), which fully justifies the statistical significance specified in the table. VO2max-an absolute oxygen consumption increased in the experimental group (AM $=$ 1.98) compared to the control group (AM $=$ 1.75). The arithmetic mean of the VE variable amounts to AM $=$ 71.27 in the experimental group, while it amounts to AM $=$ 59.61 in the control group. When it comes to variables HR at VO2max and FVC, no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups at the final measuring was found. After the training intervention, the experimental group showed improvements in all the parameters analyzed compared with pretest values. Results of the control group are lower than in initial measuring in almost all variables.

Table 3

Difference between experimental and control group in functional abilities at the final measuring

Variable	Experimental $N=$ 36				Control $N=$ 28				F	P
	AS	S	%Diff	EF	AS	S	%Diff	EF
HR max	174.42	11.57	0.8%	0.113	168.75	11.03	0.0%	$-$ 0.003	3.93	0.05
Max. Rate	5.93	0.71	5.5%	0.393	5.18	0.63	$-$ 1.0%	$-$ 0.075	19.41	0.00
Total time	8.06	1.51	12.3%	0.547	6.33	1.14	$-$ 5.5%	$-$ 0.322	25.63	0.00
VO2 relative	30.04	4.15	9.1%	0.608	27.52	5.01	$-$ 2.6%	$-$ 0.150	4.85	0.03
VO2 absolute	1.98	0.29	9.4%	0.586	1.75	0.25	$-$ 4.9%	$-$ 0.332	11.32	0.00
HR VO2max	169.17	11.93	0.3%	0.037	164.79	11.82	$-$ 0.3%	$-$ 0.046	2.14	0.15
VE	71.27	13.88	13.1%	0.658	59.61	12.21	$-$ 0.6%	$-$ 0.030	12.32	0.00
FVC	3.85	0.72	4.1%	0.220	3.54	0.64	$-$ 2.2%	$-$ 0.131	3.06	0.09
	$F=$ 3.68; $P=$ 0.02

AM – arithmetic mean. S – Standard deviation. f – Univariate f-test. p – Statistical significance of the univariate f-test ( $p<$ 0.05). F – Multivariate F-test. P – statistical significance of the multivariate F-test ( $p<$ 0.05); AM – Arithmetic mean. S – Standard deviation. EF – Effect size. %Diff – Produces the difference. f – Univariate f-test. p – Statistical significance of the univariate f-test ( $p<$ 0.05). F – Multivariate F-test. P – statistical significance of the multivariate F-test ( $p<$ 0.05); Max. Rate – Maximum rate achieved while running on the treadmill-Vmax (km/min); Total time – The total time of treadmill exercise test (min); VO2 relative – The total volume of oxygen consumed related to body weight (ml/kg/min); VO2 absolute – The total volume of oxygen consumed (l/min); HR VO2max – Heart rate during maximal oxygen consumption (bpm); VE – Respiratory minute volume (l/min); FVC – Forced vital capacity (l).

Focused and planned physical activity practiced during four months has shown it can improve certain aspects of functional (aerobic) abilities of women. The effects of group exercising on functional abilities of women was determined on a sample composed of 64 female subjects, aged 40 to 60. The experimental group was composed of 36 female subjects ( $N=$ 36), at the average age of 48.11 $\pm$ 6.68 who actively participated in recreational group exercising during four months, twice a week for 60 minutes (120 min/week in total). The control group was composed of 28 female subjects ( $N=$ 28), at the average age of 47.18 $\pm$ 7.40, who were not involved in any form of systematic recreational exercising (women with a sedentary lifestyle). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of group exercising on functional abilities of women. The obtained results indicate the existence of statistically significant differences in aerobic abilities of women involved in the experimental and the control group.

Aerobic ability represents the best accepted functional measure of the cardiovascular system as observed by the physiologists. Most commonly used indicators for assessing aerobic abilities are the absolute and relative oxygen consumption (VO2max ml/min; VO2max ml/kg/min), whereas in terms of assessing the intensity of exercises, the heart rate frequency is most used and it is expressed in percentages of max HR [15].

The analysis of basic descriptive statistics regarding the observed subsamples taken at the initial measuring (experimental and control groups), can be used to derive certain conclusions. In case the obtained indicator values of aerobic abilities are compared against the referential values (which unfortunately, are non-existent in the territory of Serbia, especially when referring to the ones obtained based on the given protocol used on such a sample), female subject of both groups (experimental and control) have shown average results regarding the aerobic abilities according to the criterion of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the conducted research [16].

Determining differences between the experimental and the control group upon the initial and final measuring was conducted via the Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and the Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Multivariate analysis of variance (Table 2) was used to establish that there is no statistically significant difference ( $F=$ 1.09; $p=$ 0.38) upon the initial measuring between the female subjects from the experimental and control groups in the total area of variables used for assessing the aerobic abilities. By applying the Univariate analysis of variance (Table 2) it can be observed that there is no statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control group upon the initial measuring regarding the following variables: HR max, maximum speed, total test duration, VO2max (relative oxygen consumption), VO2max (absolute oxygen consumption), HR on VO2max, VE and FVC.

Multivariate analysis of variance (MNOVA) establishes that (Table 3) there is a statistically significant difference in all functional abilities upon the final measuring discerned between the experimental and the control group ( $F=$ 3,36; $p=$ 0,02). Univariate analysis of variance establishes that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control group upon the final measuring regarding the following variables: maximum speed, total test duration, relative oxygen consumption (VO2max), absolute oxygen consumption (VO2max) and ventilation (VE). After four-month group recreational exercising, it is noticeable that the results increased up to significant scales regarding such variables as speed and total test duration. With regards to the variable total test duration, female subjects involved in the experimental group reached the third protocol level upon the final measuring (AC $=$ 8.06 $\pm$ 1.51), whereas the control group reached the second protocol level (AC $=$ 6.33 $\pm$ 1.14). Maximum speed measured in the experimental group was (AC $=$ 5.93 $\pm$ 0.71), whereas in the control group it was (AC $=$ 5.18 $\pm$ 0.63). The results spoke in favor of the experimental group regarding the variables total test duration and maximum speed, which only confirms that there was an improvement in the results of female subjects due to the four-month group exercising. By observing the parameters of the relative oxygen consumption ( $p=$ 0.03) and absolute oxygen consumption ( $p=$ 0.00) as well as the indicators of aerobic abilities, statistically significant differences were obtained when comparing female subjects from the experimental and control groups upon the final measuring. In terms of the relative and absolute oxygen consumption when comparing female subjects from the experimental and control groups upon the final measuring, it is noted that there was an increase of relative oxygen consumption by 10% in the experimental group while the absolute oxygen consumption increased by 3% in the same group, which can be ascribed to the four-month group recreational exercising. A survey [17] was used to determine a statistically significant difference regarding the variables relevant for assessing functional abilities between the initial and final measuring in female subjects form the experimental group, whereas in female subjects from the control group there was no statistically significant difference observed. The results obtained upon the final measuring also indicated that the achieved model of recreational aerobic exercising had positive effects on the functional abilities of female subjects from the experimental group.

Aerobic ability usually reaches its peak between the age of 15 and 20. In healthy adults of both sexes with a sedentary lifestyle it slowly starts to decrease already after the age of 30, measured by the rate of 10% per decade [10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21]. It can be deduced that physical activity positively affects improvement of functional abilities, which is proved by the results of this research. Higher rates of decline in VO2max, in groups that regularly exercise, can be brought into close connection with their higher values in youth (base effect), or to a major reduction in exercise in old age [11]. Greater differences regarding the values of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in groups which regularly practice physical exercises can be associated with their higher values in youth (basic effect) i.e. with the greater decrease of exercises in senior age [10, 22]. Measuring lung functions does not represent a necessary parameter in assessing functional abilities, since it has been evidenced that the respiratory system represents a limiting factor during the physical activity, especially in elderly subjects. Ventilation represents a parameter of economical capacity, i.e. it represents a product of breathing frequency and inhalation depth upon various loads. Female subjects from the experimental group achieved better value of the VE variable upon final measuring (AC $=$ 71.27 $\pm$ 13.88) compared to the control group showing the values (AC $=$ 59.61 $\pm$ 12.21) with the statistical significance ( $p=$ 0.00). With respect to variables HR upon VO2max and FVC, there is no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups upon the final measuring. The value of the HR max variable can be observed within the limits of the statistical significance. Results of the control group are lower than in initial measuring in almost all variables and possible reason for that result is winter period for experimental intervention when people get more lazy and sedentary life.

There is a possibility that statistical differences between groups are influenced by this.

Scientific evidence based on a number of well-conducted studies indicates that physically active people have a higher level of health fitness (health-related fitness), a profile with less risk of developing various diseases as compared to inactive persons (physically active persons have a better health status) [23]. Inactive adults or adults with limitations due to illness shall by following these recommendations benefit just by moving from “inactive” to “somewhat active” group. On the other hand, people who are active but not to the extent given in these recommendations, should aim at increasing the duration and intensity of exercise frequency to achieve the recommended limits. These recommendations are applicable to all adults, regardless of gender, race, nationality and financial possibilities [23].

4. Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that recreational exercises can significantly improve aerobic capacity or cardiovascular system, being important for women over the years.

The results of this study suggest the need for continuous exercise of moderate aerobic activity, as well as for monitoring their effects in order to improve the health status, quality of life and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. From science point of view future study should compare effects of different training sessions to explore which one is better for functional abilities in the long term.

Footnotes

Conflict of interest

None to report.

References

Oman

. A case-control study of psychosocial and aerobic exercise factors in women with symptoms of depression. J Psychol. 2003; 137(4): 338-50.

Lee

Folsom

Blair

. Physical activity and stroke risk: a meta-analysis. Stroke. 2003; 34(10): 2475-81.

Williams

Fleg

Ades

Chaitman

Miller

Mohiuddin

, et al. Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in the elderly (with emphasis on patients > or =75 years of age): an American Heart Association scientific statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology Subcommittee on Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention. Circulation. 2002; 105(14): 1735-43.

Armbruster

Yoke

. Methods of group exercise instruction. 3 rd ed. Massachusetts, USA: Bowker; 2005.

Karageorghis

Priest

. Music in the exercise domain: a review and synthesis (Part I). Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol. 2012; 5(1): 44-66.

Potteiger

Schroeder

Goff

. Influence of music on ratings of perceived exertion during 20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise. Percept Mot Skills. 2000; 91(3 Pt 1): 848-54.

Chow

Etnier

. Effects of music and video on perceived exertion during high-intensity exercise. J Sport Health Sci. 2017; 6(1): 81-8.

Crust

. Carry-over effects of music in an isometric muscular endurance task. Percept Mot Skills. 2004; 98(3 Pt 1): 985-91.

Kaminsky

. ACSM’s health-related physical fitness assessment manual. 3rd ed, Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2010.

10.

Eskurza

Donato

Moreau

Seals

Tanaka

. Changes in maximal aerobic capacity with age in endurance-trained women: 7-yr follow-up. J Appl Physiol. 2002; 92(6): 2303-8.

11.

Betik

Hepple

. Determinants of VO2 max decline with aging: an integrated perspective. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008; 33(1): 130-40.

12.

Gersten

. Effect of exercise on muscle function decline with aging. West J Med. 1991; 154(5): 579-82.

13.

Bruce

. Exercise testing of patients with coronary heart disease. Principles and normal standards for evaluation. Ann Clin Res. 1971; 3(6): 323-32.

14.

Mikalački

Čokorilo

Korovljev

Pavlica

Srdić

Vujkov

Sakač

Stokić

. Uticaj fizičke aktivnosti na riziko faktore radno aktivnog stanovništva. Novi Sad: Fakultet sporta i fizičkog vaspitanja, 2014.

15.

Heyward

. Advanced fitness assessment and exercise prescription. 7

{}^{\rm th}

ed. Massachusetts, USA: Bowker; 2006.

16.

Pantelić

Kostić

Mikalački

Đurašković

Čokorilo

Mladenović

. The effects of a recreational aerobic exercise model on the functional abilities of women. FU Phys Ed Sport. 2007; 5(1): 145-58.

17.

Fitzgerald

Tanaka

Tran

Seals

. Age-related declines in maximal aerobic capacity in regularly exercising vs. sedentary women: a meta-analysis. J Appl Physiol. 1997; 83(1): 160-5.

18.

Heath

Hagberg

Ehsani

Holloszy

. A physiological comparison of young and older endurance athletes. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1981; 51(3): 634-40.

19.

Buskirk

Hodgson

. Age and aerobic power: the rate of change in men and women. Fed Proc. 1987; 46(5): 1824-9.

20.

Tanaka

Desouza

Jones

Stevenson

Davy

Seals

. Greater rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age in physically active vs. sedentary healthy women. J Appl Physiol. 1997; 83(6): 1947-53.

21.

Pimentel

Gentile

Tanaka

Seals

Gates

. Greater rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age in endurance-trained than in sedentary men. J Appl Physiol. 2003; 94(6): 2406-13.

22.

Robert

Zoeller

. Gender differences in cardiorespiratory fitness with advancing a ge: is the age-associated decline in VO2max more rapid in men and do older men and women respond differently to exercise? Am J Lifestyle Med. 2008; 2(6): 492-9.

23.

Kayapinar

. Physical activity levels of adolescents. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2012; 47: 2107-13.

Effects of group exercise on functional abilities: Differences between physically active and physically inactive women

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

OBJECTIVE:

METHODS:

RESULTS:

CONCLUSION:

Keywords

1. Introduction

2. Methods

Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of both groups

Footnotes

Conflict of interest

References

Table 1
Descriptive characteristics of both groups