Health-related physical fitness in elderly women assisted by the Family Health Support Center of Canindé, CE, Brazil

Abstract

The regular practice of guided physical activity has been considered a therapeutic tool of excellence in promoting the health of the elderly; however, the evaluation of its potential in public support services for family health are still scarce and deserve a more representative approach. The aim of this study was to assess health-related physical fitness in elderly women followed up by the Family Health Support Center in Canindé, Ceará. The level of physical activity, the ability to perform daily activities, blood pressure, resting heart rate, body composition, aerobic fitness, strength, and flexibility of upper and lower limbs of elderly users of the physical activity program were evaluated. The results showed that 60.87% of the elderly are active and that 89.25% are independent in performing their daily tasks, characterizing a better functional capacity resulting from the regular practice of physical activity. They had normal pressure and chronotropic averages, as well as adequate muscle mass, however they were classified as obese and at a high risk of developing metabolic complications. The elderly women demonstrated a good average muscular strength of upper (18.15±5.25) and lower (11.06±2.85) limbs. However, they demonstrated a low aerobic fitness (375.5±66.52) and low flexibility of upper (-6.33±9.3) and lower (-1.93±7.66) limbs, suggesting an assessment of the structure of the physical activity program and expansion of health education strategies. In conclusion, active elderly women with good functional capacity and muscle strength were evaluated, although with a high weight index, a high risk for metabolic complications, and low aerobic fitness and flexibility scores.