Muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility measures as well as psychological outcomes were not evaluated. The results can also not be generalized to other physically independent elderly (with different age and characteristics), nor to men. Another limitation is that the protective effect of exercise was not evaluated (6–12 months after the intervention) as well as the prevalence and incidence of falls after 12 weeks. However, positive results on postural balance in elderly women were observed even with a reduced intervention time of 12 weeks (24 sessions), and longer periods would probably achieve better results and have more impact on these variables. Balance is a predictor of falls and evaluating this functional capacity makes it possible to infer factors associated with both outcomes (balance versus falls).
5. Conclusion
All modalities of exercise investigated (MT, AG and GG) are efficient for improving postural balance in elderly women after 12 weeks of training. These results provide further evidence
concerning exercise and balance and also contribute to the use of new forms of exercise for health promotion in elderly women.