Importância do exercício físico em idosos com sarcopenia

Abstract

Introduction: Aging began to be studied with greater interest in developing countries due to the rapid increase of this population. Increased longevity leads to greater use of health services, so it is necessary to offer preventive care, since aging involves functional losses. Sarcopenia is described as a geriatric syndrome and results in a progressive decrease in muscle mass and strength, compromising the functionality of the elderly. Physical inactivity and its decrease contribute to sarcopenia. Physical activity can be seen as an important factor in reversing or modifying the development of this condition. The objective of this study was to investigate and evaluate the importance of physical exercise in the elderly with sarcopenia. Methodology: This study is a review of the literature, and the research was conducted in the Medline databases and CAPES portal, using the following terms in Portuguese and their correspondents: aging, population aging, sarcopenia, exercise in the elderly, and exercise effect in sarcopenia. Original articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyzes were included. Results: At the end of the research of this review, eight articles were selected that prove that the physical exercise improves the muscle strength and the performance of the elderly. Discussion: Physical exercise is considered the ideal strategy against sarcopenia, resistance exercise improves strength gain and is beneficial for elderly individuals who present with sarcopenia. Elderly with diagnosis of sarcopenia submitted to resistance exercise showed improvement in gait and balance, resisted exercise is considered an important stimulus for muscle hypertrophy. However, combining various types of exercise into one program can improve muscle strength and physical performance, such as combined exercise (aerobic and resisted). They present evidence of improvement in muscle mass, strength and physical performance, and can be used to combat sarcopenia. Conclusion: The studies reported in the results allow us to conclude that sarcopenic elderly respond well to physical exercise and are able to improve mass, muscular strength and physical performance. Based on what has been presented, most studies focus on resisted exercise and to a lesser extent on aerobic exercise, with combined exercise being the most beneficial therapy to combat sarcopenia, but such benefits should be better studied in order to obtain more evidence.