Atividade física e funcionalidade da pessoa idosa: influência da pratica de atividade física da pessoa idosa

Abstract

The aging of a population is due to the increase of people aged 60 years and over and consequently a decline in the number of younger people, ie the Brazilian population is aging because it is decreasing the birth rate in the country and also the mortality rate. Given this, the present research aims to evaluate possible contributions in maintaining balance and flexibility of the elderly through physical activity, as well as: a) Understand concepts and general aspects about aging and physical activity; b) identify factors that influence the process of maintaining the elderly's functional balance and flexibility capabilities; and c) understand conceptual aspects of the assessment tests used in the research. The research took as reference authors such as Gonçalves and Vilarta (2004), Neri and Guariento (2011), Spirdusos (2005), Brito and Litvoc (2004), Birren and Schroots (1996), Shephard (2003), Mazo; Lopes and Benedetti (2001), Gil (2008), Severino (2007) among others to address the questions about aging, physical activity and functional abilities of the elderly. This research is characterized, as the approach, as a quantitative research, with the application of three tests, the first being the physical aptitude for idode (TAFI), then the time up and go (TUG) and finally the short phisical performance. battery (SPPB) so that you can compare the initial results with the final results. A total of fifteen elderly participated in the research, nine women and six men, who did not have regular practice of physical activities. It was held at a time of five weeks in the district of Cordeiro in Recife. The research can find that the regular practice of physical activity for the elderly has brought several benefits for maintaining the flexibility and balance of the elderly person in the neighborhood of Cordeiro.