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O idoso institucionalizado: avaliação da capacidade funcional e aptidão física

2010; Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; Volume: 26; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1590/s0102-311x2010000900007

1678-4464

Lúcia Hisako Takase Gonçalves, Aline Huber da Silva, Giovana Zarpsellon Mazo, Tânia Rosane Bertoldo Benedetti, Sílvia Maria Azevedo dos Santos, Sueli Marques, Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues, Marilene Rodrigues Portella, Helenice de Moura Scortegagna, Silvana Sidney Costa Santos, Marlene Teda Pelzer, Andréa Souza Santos, Edméia Campos Meira, Edite Lago da Silva Sena, Marion Creutzberg, Tais de Lima Rezende,

Physical Activity and Health

This study analyzed the relationship between physical fitness and functional capacity in 78 residents of long-stay institutions for low-income elderly located in five regions of Brazil. The majority of the sample consisted of women, and mean age was 77.4 years (SD = 7.9). Physical fitness was assessed with the AAHPERD test, adjusted for institutionalized elderly. The Katz scale was used for functional capacity. The five components of physical fitness rated fair for flexibility, coordination, agility, and aerobic endurance and good for strength. The mean general physical fitness (GPF) index was fair. According to the findings, the greater the degree of dependency in institutionalized elderly, the lesser their strength and GPF level; meanwhile, better coordination and agility are associated with greater independence for performing activities of daily living. The results can contribute to appropriate physical exercise programs for maintenance and/or recovery of functionality.