subjects were asked to keep the non-tested leg in a position of
0° of hip flexion and 90° of knee flexion and their arms along
the body.
Dynamic balance and lower-limb loading distribution
were measured during the sit-to-stand test (test 4) with the
subjects barefoot. In this test, subjects were asked to rise
quickly from a seated to a standing position, during which
data were analyzed on weight transfer (time of center of
gravity moving from sitting to standing position), rising
index (percentage of body weight exerted to rise), end sway
(center of gravity movement immediately after standing)
and the right/left lower-limb loading symmetry (in percentage)
from the sitting to standing position. All subjects
performed 3 repetitions of each test and the average was
used for data analysis.
Functional performance
Measures of functional performance included the sit-tostand,
rising from the floor, stair climbing and 6 MW tests.
All tests were performed the same day (between 2 and 5
p.m.), before and after the exercise program (4 days after
last exercise session), following the sequence described
below and with a 3-min rest interval between tests. The sitto-
stand test measured the time taken by subjects to perform
5 repetitions of rising from a standard chair without
armrests (seat height of 46 cm) to a full upright position
as quickly as possible and without assistance (5). The rising
from the floor test measured the time taken by subjects to
rise from the supine position (arms along the body) to a full
upright position 40 cm ahead of its original position as
quickly as possible. The test was performed 3 times (1 min
of rest between tries) and the average was used for analysis.
The stair climbing test measured as the time taken by
subjects to ascend a flight of 15 steps (15 cm high and 30 cm
depth) as quickly as possible. The 6 MW test measured the
distance covered in 6 min while walking on a programmable
treadmill without inclination and with self-controlled
velocity, where the subjects were instructed to walk according
to Borg’s scale, in exertion levels ranging from light to
somewhat hard (from 11 to 13) (19), as previously described
(20).
Resistance training program
The resistance training program was performed twice
weekly for 13 weeks and was designed to develop muscle
mass and strength. Each exercise session was monitored by
an exercise specialist and consisted of 5 min of warm-up,
approximately 15 min of resistance exercise and 5 min of
cool down. The resistance exercises were performed
unilaterally (both legs were trained) and consisted of two
sets of 8-12 repetitions each performed on the leg press,
knee curl and calf raise using weight lifting machines
(Biodelta Inc., Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil). The initial workload was
set at 60% of the 1-repetition maximum of the weaker leg, as
previously reported (16). The volunteers were encouraged
to perform at their maximum capacity during the sets of 8-
12 repetitions prescribed, using proper form and avoiding
the Valsalva maneuver. All subjects were instructed to take
a 30- to 60-s rest between sets, which were performed on
alternating legs. The exercise specialist also instructed all
participants to perform the correct exercise movement
during each session. To promote sufficient workload and
produce improvements throughout the 13 weeks of training,