Correlations between habitual physical activity and self-perceived functional fitness, self-sufficiency fitness and health among men over 60 years old

Abstract

Purpose. The study examined whether increased levels of habitual physical activity (HPA) in men over 60, expressed by the volume of energy expenditure in relation to PA, is significantly related to a higher self-assessment of functional fitness, selfdependency fitness and health. Methods. One hundred and sixty six men over 60 (60-88 years of age) living in Poznań (a large city in Poland) participated in the study. In order to measure actual HPA, a Caltrac accelerometer was used. The results were analysed according to weekly physical activity energy expenditure (PA-EE) values and PA-EE values per kilogram of body weight (PA-EE/kg). A questionnaire was used to estimate self-perceived functional fitness, self-sufficiency fitness and health. Results. The study noted higher values of PA-EE and PA-EE/kg in men who positively perceived their functional fitness, self-sufficiency fitness and health. Conclusions. Increasing the range of everyday activities is one of the potential directions for the development of health prophylaxis.