Motivos de ingresso e permanencia de idosos em um programa de atividades aquáticas: Um estudo longitudinal

Abstract

This study aimed to verify the reasons for engagement of elderly people in a program of water physical activities and to compare them with the reasons for remaining physically active with the years. The sample consisted of 62 elderly practitioners of aquatic activities. Data were extracted from a database and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics (McNemar test), with significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The motives for the engagement of the elderly in the program were mainly the pursuit of "quality of life and health" and "medical indication", followed by "general indication". We found that the reasons for remaining in the program have changed with the passage of time, at beginning they were "health", "physical activity" and "quality of care" to a noteworthy increase in "quality of life". Knowing these motives it is possible to evaluate the program and to plan strategies in order to keep the elderly in this practice for a long time, achieving healthy aging.