Efeito de 2 Programas de Intervenção Comunitária de Exercício Físico no Equilíbrio: relatório de estágio

Abstract

Introduction: This report was developed within the scope of the Dissertation/Internship/Project curricular unit of the 2nd cycle in Physical Activity, Exercise and Health (2CAFES) of the specialization branch of Exercise in Clinical Contexts, at the Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto (FADEUP). The internship consisted of organizing physical exercise sessions in two community intervention programs: the Diabetes in Movement Program (DM) and the Mais Ativos Mais Vividos Program (MAMV), over a period of 9 months. Internship Objectives: Planning, implementing and conducting exercise sessions; applying tests for an initial assessment of participants' physical fitness; broadening knowledge of the comorbidities associated with the different pathologies characteristic of this age group and their impact on the practice of physical activity; increasing critical capacity in order to adapt exercises from session to session. Research Study: Fall events have decisive consequences for people's quality of life, especially among the elderly. In this age group, gait and balance disorders are among the most common causes of falls. It was with this in mind that, as part of an internship research study, an attempt was made to evaluate the impact of the two programs on the participants' balance after 6 months of implementation. Methodology: The sample consisted of 20 individuals, divided between the two programs: 14 in DM and 6 in MAMV. To assess balance, four assessment instruments were applied at 2 different times (at the beginning and at the end of 6 months): Timed Up & Go Test (TUG) for dynamic balance, Unipodal Balance Test (1LS) and Unipodal Balance Test with Eyes Closed (1LSf) to assess static balance and the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) to measure the participants' confidence in daily activities. Results: There was a significant improvement in dynamic balance in the DM group program, a tendency towards improvement in static balance in the MAMV and, finally, an increase in the participants' confidence to carry out daily activities in both exercise programs. Limitations: The study's limitations include the heterogeneous structure of the programs and the characteristics of the two classes, which may have influenced the results obtained Conclusion: We call for new studies to clarify the relationship between balance and the two programs presented (DM and MAMV) and also to find the intervention plan that best suits each one. Different physical exercise plans have been shown to reduce the number of falls and promote balance in the elderly.