Effects of 12-week resistance exercise and interval training on the skeletal muscle area, physical fitness, and mental health in old women

This study aimed to determine the effects of resistance exercise and interval training on the visceral fat to skeletal muscle area, physical fitness, cognitive functions, and mental health in old women. The study was conducted among 30 older women enrolled in the National Fitness Center in Seoul. They were randomly sampled into the resistance exercise and interval training group (RI group: n=10, aged 64.10 +/- 3.35), the resistance and aerobic exercise group (RA group: n=10, aged 65.20 +/- 5.10), and the control group (n=10, aged 63.20 +/- 2.62). Twelve weeks of exercise involving 30-min resistance exercise followed by 30-min interval training or aerobic exercise, 3 times a week, were performed by each group. A computed topography was used to the measure visceral fat area and the thigh skeletal muscle area. For physical fitness, maximum oxygen uptake, knee isokinetics muscle functions, ankle range of motion, and functional fitness of the elderly (muscle strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, balance, and agility) were measured.