Introduction
Increased life expectancy is associated with biopsychosocial changes that occurs naturally with advancing age.1 Important physiological and functional changes are part of the aging process of humans, resulting in neuromuscular, somatosensory, vestibular and visual impairment.2-4 The decline in functional performance and the fear of falling are among the factors which most influence the quality of life (QOL) of elderly.5,6 This growing population process aging emerges as a clinical priority, becoming a challenge for the development of health specific resources and social assistance policies7, considering old age and disability are among the main determinants of the use of services public health.8,9 Elderly people in the community have considerable functional decline and disabilities, progressively compromising independence, self-confidence and QOL, and these commitments are intensified by physical inactivity, which is linked to important negative results in the general health of them.10,11 Some studies have shown the use of specific physical exercise programs present significant improvements in the strength, balance and functional mobility of elderly, even at more advanced ages, also the regular practice of these exercises provides them positive results in the QOL.10,12,13 Although the evidence shows the benefits of physical exercise, there is still low adherence to this strategy, and this reduced adherence may be related to factors such as locomotion difficulties and poor functional mobility or non-adaptation to the environment where the exercises are performed. It has been shown in others studies so far, the use programs of supervised exercise and performed in physical training centers.14A recent study15, indicated elderly people with a history of falls prefer to participate in exercise programs that can be performed at home or do not require transportation. Considering that semi-supervised home physical exercise is a safe, low-cost and easy-to-implement therapeutic resource, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that regular practice of a progressive physical exercise program performed at home improves functional mobility and the quality of life of sedentary elderly people in a community.