Evaluation of the effects of eight-week step-aerobic exercise program on some fitness parameters at middle aged sedentary women

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluation of the effect of eight-week step-aerobic exercise program on some fitness parameters at middle-aged sedentary women. Subjects consist of 15 voluntary-healthy sedentary women mean aged 39,33±4,67 years.

A step-aerobic program of three times a week, each of which lasted 45-55 minutes, was performed by the subjects throughout eight week. The intensity of the exercise was determined a 50-60% of maximum heart rate. Body weights, body mass index, heart rate during rest, heart rate after a five-minute treadmill, flexibilities, anaerobic power, aerobic capacities, back-leg strengths, right-left hand grip strengths, body fat rates, systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the subjects were measured before and after the exercise program. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out with Paired t-test. At the end of the study, a significant decrease was determined in the heart rate during rest, and after a five-minute treadmill, body fat rates and systolic blood pressures of the subjects. A significant increase was determined in the flexibility, anaerobic power, aerobic capacities, leg strengths right and left hand grip strengths of the subjects.

Consequently, it was found out that an exercise which is done properly and throughout a long period has positive effects on fitness parameters of middle aged females