Sport Biosciences

A Comparison of Serum Serotonin Level and Some Physical Fitness Factors in Active Elderly

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Farnaz Torabi 1
Azar Aghayari 1
Mohammad Daneshpour 2
Akram Ramezankhani 3

1 Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 MSc in Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

3 PhD in Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

https://doi.org/10.22059/jsb.2018.66072
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare the serum serotonin level and some physical fitness factors in the active elderly in Qom city. The sample comprised of male elderly over 60 years old in Qom city who were assigned to aerobic (n=15), weight training (n=15), zurkhaneh (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. In order to assess physical fitness, 4 factors including balance (single leg balance test), muscle endurance (swimming on hand), flexibility (Wells flexibility test) and power (Sargent jump) were studied. Blood serotonin was measured with ELISA test. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA (P<0.05). The results showed that serum serotonin levels were higher in active groups than control group (P<0.05) but there were no significant differences in blood serotonin level among active groups (P>0.05). The level of physical fitness in active subjects was better than the control group. In addition, weight training group showed a higher level of fitness in balance and muscle endurance tests (P<0.05). With regard to the results, it can be noted that sport especially weight training can have a significant effect on increasing serum serotonin level and physical fitness in the elderly.

Keywords

aerobic exercise
Elderly
physical fitness
resistance training
serotonin
zurkhaneh
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Sport Biosciences
Volume 9, Issue 4
Spring 2016
Pages 473-487

  • Receive Date 21 December 2016
  • Revise Date 14 March 2017
  • Accept Date 13 May 2017

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