Physical performance, body composition, and quality of life in elderly women from clubs for the retired and living in twilight homes (original) (raw)
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Acta medica Lituanica, 2009
Background. Quality of life is a factor directly linked to the context of aging, being one of those responsible for the increase or decrease of the population's longevity. Th e objective of this research was to evaluate the levels of physical activity and quality of life in elderly women practitioners of formal and non-formal physical activities. Materials and methods. Th e sample consisted of 122 elderly women aged 60 to 87 years (67.9 ± 6.9), accompanied by the Family Health Strategy from the city of Crato (Ceará-Brazil), divided into two equal groups of 61 elderly women practitioners of formal physical activities (AFF) and non-formal physical activities (AFNF). To determine the level of physical activity, the Modifi ed Baecke Questionnaire for the Elderly was used. Th e quality of life was assessed by the WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire. Th e statistical treatment comprised descriptive and inferential analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS, 16.0 version for Windows. Th e level of signifi cance and statistical error considered were 5% (p < 0.05). Results. Th e levels of physical activity were low, the scores for the AFF group being 4.45 and for the AFNF group 1.71. Th e quality of life level was classifi ed as medium (AFF = 13.38 and AFNF = 11.84). Conclusions. Th e group practicing the AFF showed better results in the evaluations of Baecke and WHOQOL-old compared to the group of AFNF. We conclude that the participation in a program of formal physical activity is able to improve quality of life. It is recommended to conduct complementary studies aimed to analyze the relation of physical activity to quality of life, with a view to emphasize the importance of the systematic practice of exercises in improving the overall health status of the elderly.
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