Association between insufficient practice of physical exercise, walking, and other modalities in healthy elderly

Abstract

The objective was to compare functional capacity and health parameters of older adults with insufficient practice of physical exercise (IPPE) and older practitioners of different modalities of physical exercise. A cross-sectional study with 113 older people divided into the following groups: G1 - IPPE; G2 - walking practitioners; G3 - walking practitioners associated with one or more modalities; G4 - practitioners of one modality; and G5 - practitioners of two or more modalities. The AAHPERD test battery was used to evaluate functional capacity and the body fat percentage and blood pressure health parameters were analyzed. Analysis of Variance and the Odds Ratio were used. The results show differences at the level of p <0.05 in coordination and strength (G3> G1 and G4), agility (G2, G3 and G5 G1 and G3, G5> G1 and G4), and diastolic blood pressure (G1> G4 and G5). The practice of walking and practice of two or more physical exercise modalities are associated with better functional capacity in older adults.