4. Discussion
depression, TKD reduced postural instabilities
BLOOD, PRESSURE AREA
This study aimed to analyze and compare the effects of an adapted taekwondo program comprising multicomponent training on blood pressure, morphological variables, food consumption frequency, HRQoL, physical fitness, HGS, and postural balance in independent older women. The primary outcomes indicated the following: (Blood pressure, morphological variables, and food consumption frequency did not present post-intervention changes in either the TKD or the MCT. Contrary to this finding, another previously adapted taekwondo intervention reported a significant reduction in body fat percentage, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in older women with depression when compared to an inactive control group (HRQoL did not reveal significant differences between the TKD and MCT. Nonetheless, although the participants presented favorable baseline values for most HRQoL dimensions, they showed improved mental health in the TKD and improved general health in both the TKD and MCT post-intervention. This observation is significant as it has been linked to poor morphological variables and physical fitness; for example, among the HRQoL dimensions, body mass, waist circumference, back scratch test, and TUG were significantly associated with low mental and general health in physically active older women (Regarding physical fitness, significant differences were observed in favor of the TKD compared to the MCT in the post-intervention chair stand, arm curl, and 2-min step tests. Furthermore, the TKD demonstrated significant improvements in the results of the chair sit-and-reach test, but no significant changes were observed in the results of the back scratch test, TUG, and HGS. As for the MCT, it did not demonstrate significant changes in the physical fitness tests and HGS. Similar results were presented in previous studies that adapted taekwondo for older women; these studies reported substantial improvements in chair stand (Although there were significant interactions in postural balance for the eyes-closed condition in the center of the pressure area, mean velocity, and mediolateral velocity, no significant differences between the TKD and MCT could be found. Nevertheless, both the TKD and MCT showed a substantial reduction in postural oscillations in the eyes-closed condition in mediolateral velocity. Furthermore, the TKD reduced postural instabilities, which was reflected in the decrease in the center of the pressure area and mean velocity. Similar to this finding, one study reported a significant improvement in postural balance in the eyes-open condition for both the adapted taekwondo and walking exercise groups compared to the passive control group, which was reflected in the decrease in the center of the pressure area, mean velocity, and mediolateral velocity (Some of the possible limitations of the study are as follows: (Finally, despite the statistical differences observed between the two groups (TKD and MCT) concerning the variables analyzed, the more effective intervention method for promoting health among older women may be related to intrinsic choices and participants' adherence to maintaining their participation in the intervention (