چكيده لاتين
Abstract
With advancing age, declines in physical and cognitive abilities as well as reduced quality of life are among the major challenges of the elderly, while physical exercise can play an effective role in counteracting these issues. The present study aimed to compare the effects of Life Kinetik and Square-Stepping Exercise on physical fitness, cognitive performance, and quality of life in elderly. The statistical population included elderly women of the Farhikhtegn Day Rehabilitation Center in Chaleshtor with a mean age of 67 years. Initially, 40 participants voluntarily enrolled and were randomly assigned into two training groups (20 in each); however, based on exclusion criteria, 34 participants (18 in the Life Kinetik group and 16 in the Square-Stepping group) completed the intervention. Both groups participated in their respective training programs for 8 weeks, consisting of three sessions per week, each lasting 60 minutes.Data were collected using a set of standardized tests and questionnaires in the domains of physical fitness, cognitive performance, and quality of life. After confirming normality of distribution and homogeneity of variance, the data were analyzed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests.The findings revealed that both interventions, compared to the pre-test, led to significant improvements in dynamic and static balance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility of the limbs, walking speed, reaction time, cognitive performance, and quality of life. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in cognitive performance, quality of life, and reaction time. In contrast, the Life Kinetik group showed superior outcomes in handgrip strength and upper-body flexibility, whereas the Square-Stepping group demonstrated significantly better results in lower-body flexibility, muscular endurance, balance and walking speed.These results suggest that engaging elderly individuals in diverse exercise programs can effectively enhance various aspects of physical and cognitive health and provide a scientific basis for designing interventions aimed at promoting health in elderly care centers.
Keywords: Square Stepping training, Life Kinetic training, Physical fitness factors, Cognitive function, Quality of life, Elderly
