Investigation of physical fitness according to gender among older adults with similar physical activity levels

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the physical fitness of older adults with similar physical activity levels according to gender. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) (Turkish version) was used to assess their physical activity levels, and the Senior Fitness Test was used to measure physical fitness based on performance. The Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the non-parametric data between the genders, and the t-test was used for the parametric data. No significant difference was found in age, height and weight between older women and older men (p>0.05). There were significant differences in the chair stand test, arm curl test, get-up-and-go test and two-minute step test between older women and older men (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the back-scratch test and the chair sit-and-reach test between older women and men (p>0.05). There is a gender-related difference between physical fitness components of men and women with similar levels of physical activity, except flexibility. Older men had stronger arms and legs, better dynamic balance, and better agility and aerobic capacities compared to older women in this research.