Background: The multicomponent training program (MTP) is a physical exercise strategy used to combat the sedentary lifestyle in older women (OW). However, periods of interruption in training are common in this population. The aim of our study was to analyze the 8-week MTP effects followed by two, four, and eight weeks of interruption on the lipid profile (LP) and functional capacity (FC) of OW.
Methods: Twenty-one OW (experimental group [EG], 67.6 ± 3.1 years; 1.55 ± 0.35 m) were subjected to an 8-week MTP followed by a detraining period, and 14 OW (control group [CG], 69.4 ± 4.7 years; 1.61 ± 0.26 m) maintained their daily routine. FC (i.e., 30-s chair stand [30-CS], 8-foot up and go [8-FUG], 6-min walk [6-MWT], handgrip strength [HGS], and heart-rate peak during 6-WMT [HRPeak]), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were assessed before and after MTP and two, four, and eight weeks after MTP.
Results: 8-week MTP resulted in higher FC and decreased LP values in EG (p < 0.05); two and four weeks of detraining did not promote changes. After eight weeks of detraining TC (ES: 2.74; p = 0.00), TG (ES: 1.93; p = 0.00), HGS (ES: 0.49, p = 0.00), HRPeak (ES: 1.01, p = 0.00), 6-MWT (ES: 0.54, p = 0.04), and 8-FUG (ES: 1.20, p = 0.01) declined significantly.
Conclusions: Periods of more than four weeks of detraining should be avoided to promote a good quality of life and health in OW. If older people interrupt training for a period longer than four weeks, physical-education professionals must outline specific training strategies to maintain the adaptations acquired with MTP. Future studies should establish these criteria based on ideal training volume, intensity, and frequency.
Keywords: aging; functional capacity; lipid profile; multicomponent training.