OBJECTIVE: Verify the effects of the practice of an aquatic exercise program resisted in the resistivity carotid, life quality and functional autonomy of elderly.
METHOD: The sample was taken based on 35 women with 68.67 ± 4.52 years old, allocated in intervention group (HG = 22) and control group (CG = 13). The carotid arterial resistance was availed by the method of Doppler ultrasound, the life quality through the questioner WHOQOL-100 and the functional autonomy through four experiences which simulate day a day activities. The proposed exercise program lasted 12 weeks with moderate intensity controlled for the OMNI-RES effort perception scale.
RESULTS: The carotid resistivity and the life quality didn't suffer significant changes. Significance was obtained on the functional autonomy in the procedure C10m with the reduction in the execution time, p = 0.002 after intervention. Correlation between the general functional autonomy index and the carotid resistivity index, p = 0,000 at before procedure and positive correlation between the standing up from the ventral decubiti position procedure and the domains 2 and 6 of life quality after procedure.
CONCLUSION: The proposed resisted aquatic exercise program wasn't capable of reduce the carotid arterial resistivity and cause significant improvement on elderly life quality when singly aviated. However there was correlation between functional autonomy and elderly life quality after aquatic resisted exercise regular practice.</p
