SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF INSTRUMENTS THAT MEASURE PHYSICAL-MOTOR CAPACITY BY THE ELDERLY VIEW

Abstract

The physical assessment for the elderly is a mean to quantify and qualify the physical activity for an aging body. The elderly are exposed to batteries of tests that identify the physiological parameters but that limit physical activity to only motor benefit when its fundamental importance to this age is the psycho emotional social aspects. However, adding the vision of the assessed valued the ability increases the functional relationship of exercise to the individual. The older people perception of the performed tests helps to guide for the selection of movements related to the LDAs, or the study of what truly makes an impact on this person's life. The objective of this study is to understand the perception of the elderly regarding the testings of physical and motor fitness proposed in the literature. Randomly chose 25 tests that were filmed in clips and organized in four films. The sample consisted of 112 elderly people who watched the films and answered four questions. The hypothesis is that there is an association of the ability to perform the tests with the decision to execute them and with the understanding of the use of movement. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi-square, p <0.05, by BioEstat 5.0. The association was positive for 18 of the tests evaluated, while tests based on infant motor development were excluded. An exception proved to be evident with the lack of association of forearm flexion test. Concluded that the greatest loss of strength in lower limbs enable the perception of the role of upper limbs in the household. The results evaluation shows that not all the proposed tests may be appropriate for the elderly; there is a need for teachers to relate the exercises with LDAs and to discuss which tests really illustrate the physical aspects of aging.