EFEITOS DOS EXERGAMES NA CAPACIDADE FÍSICA DE IDOSOS: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA

Abstract

The aging process can generate several changes in the physical capacity of the elderly. This scenario can be reversed through the practice of physical exercises and one of the alternatives that facilitates adherence by the elderly is the use of exergames. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of exergames on the physical capacity of the elderly. An integrative review of the literature was carried out in the Pubmed, BVS, Cochrane Library and SciELO databases. Studies published between 2016 and 2021, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, of the randomized clinical trial type, with participants aged 60 or over, healthy due to the absence of senility and with exergame interventions were included. A total of 2,107 articles were identified, eight of which were eligible for the final sample. The studies presented samples that varied between 20 and 80 participants, male and female. The exergames used included the Xbox Kinect, Nintendo Wii Fit and the Impact Dance Platform, with protocols lasting 5 to 12 weeks, two to three times a week and sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes. The findings of this review suggest that the use of exergames presents promising results in the physical capacity of elderly individuals, involving the domains of balance, muscular strength, gait, mobility, agility and aerobic capacity, in addition to proving to be viable and safe for these individuals. New studies should be developed for a more expressive analysis of the effects of exergames in this population, since articles on the subject are limited.