Abstract
Objectives: This study explored the impact of a 12-week walking and barre exercise program on depression levels (CES-D), stress hormones (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, serotonin), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) in women aged 65 and above. Methods: Twenty-seven participants were divided into a walking exercise group (WG), barre exercise group (BG) and control group (CG), each comprising nine individuals. Sessions lasted 50 min, thrice weekly, with intensity progressing every 4 weeks. Two-way repeated measures of ANOVA assessed time-group interactions and main effects, and paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used post hoc with significance set at 0.05. Results: The CES-D scores demonstrated significant interaction (p < 0.001), decreasing significantly in the BG and WG (p < 0.01) while rising in the CG (p < 0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed significantly lower depression levels in the BG compared to the CG (p < 0.01). Stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol showed a main effect of time (p < 0.05), with epinephrine increasing significantly in the BG (p < 0.05) and cortisol decreasing in the BG and WG (p < 0.05). An interaction effect emerged in hs-CRP levels (p < 0.05), while IgA and IgM displayed interaction effects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), both significantly increasing in the BG (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In summary, regular exercise positively impacted depression, stress hormones, and immune functions in older women.