Impact of a five-month detraining period on the functional fitness and physical activity levels on active older people

Daniel Martínez-Aldao; José Carlos Diz; Silvia Varela; Miguel Adriano Sánchez-Lastra; Carlos Ayán

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2020.104191

Impact of a five-month detraining period on the functional fitness and physical activity levels on active older people

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020 Nov/Dec:91:104191. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104191. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Authors

Daniel Martínez-Aldao¹, José Carlos Diz², Silvia Varela³, Miguel Adriano Sánchez-Lastra⁴, Carlos Ayán⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Special Didactics. Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, E-36005. Spain. Electronic address: danielmartinezaldao@gmail.com.
² Department of Functional Biology and Health Science. University of Vigo, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, E-36005. Spain; Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: jcdiz@uvigo.es.
³ Department of Special Didactics. Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, E-36005. Spain; HealthyFit Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: silviavm@uvigo.es.
⁴ Department of Special Didactics. Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, E-36005. Spain; HealthyFit Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: misanchez@uvigo.es.
⁵ Department of Special Didactics. Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, E-36005. Spain; Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Pontevedra, Spain. Electronic address: cayan@uvigo.es.

PMID: 32717587
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104191

Abstract

Purpose: This research was aimed at evaluating the effects of a five-month detraining period on the functional fitness level of a group of non-institutionalized and active older adults after taking part in a multi-component training program. A secondary aim was to determine how usual physical activity (PA) levels vary due to cessation of the program.

Methods: We tested sixty-five older people (mean age: 77.1 ± 6.2; 83% women) during the final week of an 8-month multi-component training program and during the first week after its resumption (five months later). We used the senior fitness test and the Minnesota Questionnaire to assess their functional fitness and their PA levels respectively.

Results: We observed a significant worsening of lower-limb strength (p = 0.008), shoulder range of motion (p = 0.004), and dynamic balance (p < 0.001) once the detraining period was completed. There was a slight downward trend in the remaining functional fitness dimensions, and there were significant differences when comparing the amount of PA estimated at pre-detraining and post-detraining (5155 ± 2258 vs 3937 ± 2087 MET-min·wk^-1; p < 0.001). Older adults classified as very active showed a non-significant trend to smaller decreases in functional fitness once the detraining period was over, in comparison with those considered active.

Conclusions: Active older people who regularly participated in a multicomponent training program showed a significant reduction in their strength, range of motion, and dynamic balance levels after a five-month detraining period. Self-reported PA decreased significantly during this time frame. Effective strategies are needed to increase PA levels in older people when systematic training programs are temporarily interrupted.

Keywords: Older people; detraining; fitness; physical activity.