The effect of calisthenic exercises on physical fitness and cognitive functions in geriatrics

Regular exercises, primarily improves the aerobic capacity, muscle strength and balance associated with physical fitness, increases the brain's blood flow and oxygenation and also stimulates the reticular activator system with central excitation effect so get the brain active and alert. In this study, relatively healthy women aged between 60 and 80 years and attending to İzmir "Nebahat Dolman Solidarity Center for Aged" for intellectual activities, carried out at submaximal level, aerobic, calisthenic exercises and effects of these exercises on physical fitness, cognitive performance and quality of life were evaluated. After general health examination and had exercises indication in Dokuz Eylül University Medical School Internal Medicine Department; 45 volunteer women suitable for international criterions of exercising standarts of olds, were taken to the program. Calisthenic exercises are aerobic and rhythmical exercises modified from Carlson Fatique Curve Test and working on wide muscle groups at submaximal level, applied under the supervision of a physiotherapist 40-50 minutes a day, 3 days a week for four months. Before and after the four month exercise program results of "Physical Fitness Test Batery" were compared and it was found that body composition, cardiopulmonary, motor and muscle skeleton system fitness were improved. We used "Stroop Test", "Wechsler Memory Scale (Visual Memory Test)", "A Verbal Test of Memory Processes", "Digit Span Test" and "Color Trails Test" to evaluate the cognitive functions and found significant improvement in immediate working memory and learning functions of the old peaple after 4 month exercise program. As a result, when we evaluate the "SF 36 Quality of Life Mesasure" during the sedantary period and after the exercise program, although we couldn't find asignificant improvement in losses about "physical role difficulty" associated with job and working circumstances; physical social function, riaiity, pain, general and mental health and emotional role diffuculty test results, which are questioning the quality of life, showed significant improvements and our olds declared their gladness and wellness in every occasion. Key Word : Aging, Exercises, Physical Fitness, Cognitive Functions, Quality of Life