RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two exercise intensities on exergame training program in muscle strength, functional capacity and perceptual parameters in pre-frail older women. Thirty-four women (69.5⯱â¯5.4â¯years) were randomly assigned to either moderate- (MG: 11-13 perceived exertion) or vigorous-exercise intensity group (VG: 14-16 perceived exertion). Muscle strength and functional capacity were evaluated before and after 3â¯months of training. The affective responses were measured once a week and perceived benefit was evaluated after training period. The MG improved the average power at 60°/s from pre- to post-training (pâ¯<â¯0.002) on the knee extensor (preâ¯=â¯100.0⯱â¯15.9â¯W; postâ¯=â¯115.2⯱â¯22.6â¯W), flexor (preâ¯=â¯22.3⯱â¯6.1â¯W; postâ¯=â¯29.1⯱â¯7.9â¯W) and plantiflexor muscles (preâ¯=â¯11.4⯱â¯5.9â¯W; postâ¯=â¯21.2⯱â¯4.2â¯W). MG presented greater average power at post-training than VG for knee extensor (20%) and flexor muscles (23%) (pâ¯<â¯0.039). There was main time effect of peak torque at 180°/s for knee extensor (preâ¯=â¯74.15⯱â¯14.28â¯N·m/kg; postâ¯=â¯81.31⯱â¯18.4â¯N·m/kg), flexor (preâ¯=â¯43.01⯱â¯12.43â¯N·m/kg; postâ¯=â¯48.3⯱â¯9.11â¯N·m/kg) and plantiflexor muscles (preâ¯=â¯29.2⯱â¯13.76â¯N·m/kg; postâ¯=â¯36.87⯱â¯9.7â¯N·m/kg) as well as average power (preâ¯=â¯41.15⯱â¯15.67â¯W; postâ¯=â¯48.42⯱â¯11.8â¯W) and work (preâ¯=â¯99.92⯱â¯38.53â¯J; postâ¯=â¯117.03⯱â¯25.56â¯J) on the knee flexor muscles (pâ¯<â¯0.046). MG improved timed up and go performance from pre- to post-training (preâ¯=â¯10.0⯱â¯0.32â¯s; postâ¯=â¯8.1⯱â¯1.6â¯s, pâ¯=â¯0.001), whereas both groups improved 10â¯m-walk performance (preâ¯=â¯1.33⯱â¯0.25â¯s, postâ¯=â¯1.5⯱â¯0.24â¯s; pâ¯=â¯0.003). Positive affect (2.64⯱â¯0.02) and pleasure (15.8⯱â¯0.6) for MG were greater than VG at post-training (2.36⯱â¯0.03; pâ¯<â¯0.001; 14.4⯱â¯0.5; pâ¯<â¯0.03). Therefore, regardless of the exercise intensity, exergame training improved muscle strength and functional capacity in pre-frail older women. However, positive affect and pleasure were reported only when older women practiced exergame with moderate exercise intensity.