OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to study the effects of different exercises on the physical fitness and quality of life of middle aged women. METHODS: Fifty-four middle aged women (mean age 44.89+5.49 yr, mean height 158.22+5.09 cm, and mean weight 57.97±7.96 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. They were from three different exercise groups: belly dance (BD, n=14), yoga (YG n=12), aerobic dance (AD, n=15), and control group (CG, n=13, no exercise). The exercise groups have practiced their exercises three days a week for 13.27±2.41 months in average. Physical fitness and quality of life (World Health Organization Questionnaire on Quality of Life, WHOQOL-BREF) were evaluated. ANOVA and post hoc test were conducted to compare the differences among the groups. RESULTS: The outcome of the study demonstrated that AD improved BMI significantly (p<.05) as compared with CG, but there was no difference between the other groups. All exercise groups enhanced sit ups (p<.05) compared with CG. The flexibility were increased statistically significant (p<.05) in either BD or YG compared with CG. The step test developed significantly (p<.05) for BD and AD, but there was no difference between YG compared with CG. It was also noted that quality of life (except environment domain) improved significantly (p<.05) for all exercise groups compared with CG.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to study the effects of different exercises on the physical fitness and quality of life of middle aged women. METHODS: Fifty-four middle aged women (mean age 44.89+5.49 yr, mean height 158.22+5.09 cm, and mean weight 57.97±7.96 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. They were from three different exercise groups: belly dance (BD, n=14), yoga (YG n=12), aerobic dance (AD, n=15), and control group (CG, n=13, no exercise). The exercise groups have practiced their exercises three days a week for 13.27±2.41 months in average. Physical fitness and quality of life (World Health Organization Questionnaire on Quality of Life, WHOQOL-BREF) were evaluated. ANOVA and post hoc test were conducted to compare the differences among the groups. RESULTS: The outcome of the study demonstrated that AD improved BMI significantly (p<.05) as compared with CG, but there was no difference between the other groups. All exercise groups enhanced sit ups (p<.05) compared with CG. The flexibility were increased statistically significant (p<.05) in either BD or YG compared with CG. The step test developed significantly (p<.05) for BD and AD, but there was no difference between YG compared with CG. It was also noted that quality of life (except environment domain) improved significantly (p<.05) for all exercise groups compared with CG.