AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PHYSICAL EXERCISE NEUROMOTOR PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY

LIMA, A. P.; JESUS, G. P., CARDOSO, F. B.; SILVA, I. L.; BERESFORD, H. Uma avalia o da eficácia de um programa neuromotor de exercícios físicos para idosos. Brazilian Journal of Biomotricity, v. 5, n. 1, p. 26-33, 2011. Aging process is characterized by organic alterations, due to individual’s life style. The present study had the objective to evaluate the efficacy of a program of neuro-motor physical exercises focused to elderly with impairments in physical attributes of agility and dynamic balance. The research consisted in a experimental study with pre- and post-interventions (pretest and posttest) and control group. Sampling was made with 100 elders, with ages varying from 75 to 80 years, in two groups, control group (CG) and experimental group (EG), which were submitted to 40 sessions with 50 minutes, corresponding to a total of thirteen and one half weeks, with a periodicity of three times a week, performing the program of neuro-motor physical exercises; as an assessment strategy, it was used the protocol of balance and agility proposed by Rikli and Jones (2008), called “Foot Up and Go”. After the intervention period, a significant difference was observed between the groups, and experimental group was better, since analysis of variance to F (Post-EG vs Post-CG) = 18,29, showing p=0,02. Tukey′s test was used to diminish doubts about the relationship of significance of the analysis, showing that this significance is related with both comparisons done, and the difference among the averages of 1.30 second is statistically relevant, since Q=6.04 and p=0.01, what demonstrates that performance improvement of the members of experimental group occurred due to the efficacy of the program of neuro-motor exercises, thus proving its importance to physical fitness on elderly evaluated.