Efeitos de um programa de exercícios físicos por meio de interação virtual e uso de Spirulina platensis na capacidade cognitiva e funcional, perfil lipídico e composição corporal de pessoas idosas

Abstract

The goal was to evaluate the effects of a physical activity program, performed by means of virtual interaction and the use of Spirulina platensis in the functional and cognitive capacity of elderly people. It is a randomized controlled study. Consisting of thirty-five elderly people, randomly distributed into three groups: G1 developed ordinary physical activities proposed by the Community Center; yet, the people of G2 developed a physical activity program by means of interaction with a videogame and used placebo; the elderly people of G3 performed the physical activity program with the videogame and used Spirulina platensis. The data were analyzed using Student s t-test for paired samples. The assessment of the normality condition was performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Shapiro-Wilk, with a significance level for p ≤ 0.05. The results presented in the scientific production I indicated that, independently on the physical activity performed, some parameters of the lipid profile and of the body composition presented variations, although in a non-significant way in all analyzed cases. There was not a clear relation of the lipid profile reduction and of the body composition in the group that received supplementation of Spirulina platensis. The results presented in scientific production II indicated that there was not a significant difference in the knee and elbow torque peak, in the extension and flexion movements, in the angular velocities assessed. Regarding the functional capacity, only two parameters did not present any significant differences in the comparison of the pre- and post-intervention assessments. The virtual activities can be used in the Community Centers for the elderly as a strategy to determine a healthier life expectancy. The results presented in scientific production III suggest that the elderly people who performed activities with the videogame obtained, on the average, a significantly better performance for the attention, memory and language functions. The regular practice of physical exercises can promote the maintenance and the improvement of the functional capacity, reducing the risks of dependency and the need for treatments linked to dysfunctions generated by a sedentary lifestyle. Playing videogames in multitasking games may serve as an effective activity to stimulate the brain to improve the performance of the brief neuropsychological functions of attention and memory