Impact of three exercise programs on physical fitness and coping and adaptation process in elderly adults

Background/Objectives: The global population ageing has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, thereby affecting the quality of life of elderly adults. Exercise interventions have been proven effective in enhancing the functional capacity of this population. The aim was to assess the effect of three exercise programs on physical fitness and the coping and adaptation process in elderly adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 450 adults aged 60 years or older, randomly assigned to three intervention groups. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess physical fitness, and Roy’s Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale was used to measure coping and adaptation. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: Multimodal intervention was significantly more effective in improving muscle strength, specifically in the Sitting-Rising and Push-Up tests. However, no significant improvements in flexibility or aerobic fitness were observed. Age was a determining factor, with lower performance observed in physical tests as age increased. There were no significant improvements in the coping and adaptation process, although an overall improvement in adaptation was observed in the intermediate age ranges. Conclusions: Multimodal training emerges as the most effective intervention for improving muscle strength in elderly adults. However, a lack of improvement in flexibility and aerobic fitness may suggest the need for more specific interventions. Age negatively impacted physical performance, underscoring the importance of tailoring exercise programs to this population.