Alexandre Duarte Martins wins the Fitness and Health Awards 2023, in the Research Award category
The work “Effects of a strength training program based on execution speed, with the aim of contributing to the fear of falling, cognitive and physical function in the elderly population: A clinical trial” by Alexandre Duarte Martins, PhD student in Human Motricity from the University of Évora, and CHRC researcher, was awarded by “Portugal Activo – Associação de Clubes de Fitness e Saúde”, in the Research Award category.
The awarded work, which is based on the doctoral thesis entitled “Effects of a strength training program on health parameters in the elderly population: a longitudinal study”, is supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., through PhD scholarship with reference 2021.04598.BD (https://doi.org/10.54499/2021.04598.BD) under scientific supervision of CHRC researchers, Professors Orlando Fernandes and Nuno Batalha, from the University of Évora and Professor João Paulo Brito, from the Rio Maior Sports School of the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém.
In his first words after the distinction, the awardee said that, although it was very gratifying to see his work recognized by his peers, the most important thing was to have managed to improve the quality of life of the participants involved and contributing through physical exercise to increasing longevity in this population. The author recalls that what was at the origin of this research was the premise that strength training has a fundamental role in preventing falls in the elderly population and is directly associated with an increase in the number of years lived with greater autonomy and independence. Finally, the author challenges this population, regardless of their preferences in terms of physical exercise, to have healthy habits and lifestyles, to be active and preventive!
The Fitness and Health Awards promoted by Portugal Activo are held annually and aim to recognize an associated professional who has developed a research project with a direct impact on the fitness and health sector in Portugal.