A influência da prática do body balance na flexibilidade, força e resistência muscular

The Body Balance is a posture conditioning program composed of Tai Chi Chuan, Pilates and Yoga. Considering the few number of researches and results obtained regarding to physical fitness during the Body Balance classes, this study, was carried out with the purpose evaluate the possible increase of flexibility, strength and muscular endurance. For this, a sample was composed of three untrained women with 23, 35 and 50 years old, who practiced Body Balance twice a week for ten weeks. The subjects were evaluated before and after a ten weeks training. The following test were done: two lumbar flexibility and strength tests; amplitude of passive and active back movement test; 1 RM test at horizontal leg press; muscular endurance test of push-up and sit-ups; adapted sit and reach test; bending over to touch the toes test; Adapted Flexiteste. The results show that there was an increase in all the test that evaluated the strength, an increase in eight test and maintenance in four tests in a total of twelve tests which evaluated the flexibility. Two women had an increase in two muscular endurance tests. The other women, however, had an increase in a test and the same results in another tests. Therefore, the practice of Body Balance can improve the flexibility, strength end muscular endurance maintenance and/or increase. According to this study, we can conclude that Body Balance is physical exercise program that can offer good results related to the components of physical fitness like flexibility, strength and muscular endurance.