Original Investigation Effects of Hydrogymnastics on IGF-1 and Functional Autonomy in Elderly Women

Abstract

Background & aim: Decreases in the organic form and function inherent to the aging process tend to reduce the functional capacity and the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) hormone levels in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrogymnastics on IGF-1 serum levels and functional autonomy (FA) in elderly women.Methods: 28 elderly women were randomly divided into 2 groups: hydrogymnastics group (HG, n=14; age: 66.55±3.77years; BMI: 27.03±5.44kg/m 2 ) and control group (CG, n=14; age: 66.33±4.52years; BMI: 29.82±4.96kg/m 2 ). The intervention with hydrogymnastics was performed 3 times per week during 12 weeks. Each session was composed of warming up, main part and cool-down, totaling 50 minutes of duration. The IGF-1 levels were analyzed by chemiluminescence. The GDLAM protocol of FA was applied -walking 10 m (W10m); rising from the sitting position (RSP); rising from a ventral decubitus position (RVDP); sitting in, rising from, and walking around a chair (SRWC); and putting on and taking off a t-shirt (PTTs) -and the overall autonomy index (AI) was calculated. Results:The HG showed a significant increase in IGF-1 serum levels after the intervention when compared to CG. The execution times in the GDLAM protocol tests were significantly lower in the HG, except in the SRWC, and the HG also presented a significant improvement in the AI post-intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion:The 12-week hydrogymnastics intervention contributed to an increase in IGF-1 serum levels and to improve the performance in activities of daily living (ADL) in the elderly women.