Exercícios físicos, força muscular e atividades de vida diária em mulheres idosas

Abstract

The scope of this study was to investigate relationships between muscle strength of the upper and lower limbs, physical exercise, and functionality to perform complex activities of day-today life in elderly women recruited from the community. 1538 elderly women with mean age = 72.07 ± 5.46 and average household income = 3.59 ±3.96 MW, without cognitive deficit suggestive of dementia, were submitted to tests of grip strength and walking speed. They were asked to self-report on regular practice of physical exercise and performance of 13 social AADLs (e.g. working, travelling and church attendance) and 3 IADLs (handling money, doing the shopping and using public transport). The worst performance key factors were low grip strength and low gait speed in ADL (OR = 2.48 if both; OR = 1.66 if either were present), as well as low income (OR = 2.46 low income < 1 MW and = 2.45 to 1.1 and 3.0 MW) and sedentary life style (OR = 2.08). The functionality of elderly women is influenced by physiological aging, but also by contextual conditions and life style.