The Effect of Aerobic and Combined Training (Resistance-Aerobic) on Growth Factor Beta and Creatine Kinase Due to Muscle Injury in Elderly Men

The mechanisms involved in old age are largely unknown. Although there are no effective therapeutic interventions to increase life expectancy and prevent aging, it seems that physical activity can play an important role in preventing aging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic and combined exercise on growth factor beta and creatine kinase caused by muscle injury in elderly men. In this study,30 elderly men with a mean age of 66 years were divided into three groups of aerobic, combined and control exercises. Exercises were performed for 8 weeks with a frequency of 3 sessions per week. Aerobic exercises were performed with an intensity of 60-74% of the maximum heart rate and resistance exercises with an intensity of 60% of a maximum repetition (1RM), which had reached 75% during the training weeks. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the start of training and 48 hours after the last training session. Analysis and comparison between groups were performed by analysis of covariance and for in-group comparison of data by paired t-test at a significance level of P <0.05. TGF-β1 values in two groups of aerobic (P=0.006) and combined (P=0.003) and CK values in the combined group (P=0.03) had a significant increase compared to the control group. But there was no difference in CK values between aerobic and control groups (P=0.11). Increasing the appropriate levels of TGF‐β1 has resulted in more proper muscle regeneration in this age group.