A Comparison of the Effects of Two Methods of Aerobic and Combined Exercises on the Changes of Angiogenesis Factor TGF-β1 and Cortisol Hormone in Healthy Elderly Men

In this semi-experimental study, 30 healthy elderly men were divided into 3 groups of aerobic exercise, combined exercise and control group. The exercise sessions were held 3 days a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Aerobic training with an intensity of 60-75% of maximal heart rate reserve was performed. Combined exercises at the same percentage of maximum heart rate and resistance trainings consisted of 5 movements with 60% 1RM intensity which had reached to 75% during the training weeks. ANCOVA and t-test were used to compare the inner and inter group averages at the significant level of P≤0.05.

Compared to the control group, the results of the present study showed significant changes in TGF-β1 level (P = 0.015) and cortisol (P = 0.016) in the training groups because of aerobic and parallel trainings. According to the post-test measures, TGF-B1 increased in the combined and aerobic groups, and cortisol significantly decreased in the combined group compared to the pre-test results.