OLDER PEOPLE FROM ELDERLY SOCIETY GROUPS: FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL

Abstract

This study aimed analyzes the physical activity levels (mainly sedentary and very physically active) and functional capacity from older individuals. It's an epidemic transverse descriptive research. The population was composed by 1.652 older people from 37 Elderly Society Groups from São José city, SC. The sample was probabilistic, with random selection, and was composed by 256 participant of these groups. The instruments used in data collection were: Form for identification data; International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), version 8, forms long and normal week, that evaluates physical activity level; Self-perception Scale of daily life activities performance (ANDREOTTI; OKUMA, 1999), that evaluates the functional capacity. The data were treated with descriptive statistics, and no-parametric test (Chi-square), with 5% of significancy level. It was observed that 59% of study subjects were very active and 41% mainly sedentary. Most of the olders reveal their functional capacity as good and very good, and 60,9% like very good, 33,2% good and 5,9% in medium level. Relating the physical activity level with functional capacity, was verified that there wasn't statistically significant differences (p <0.05). Even so the olders majority had elevated physical activity level, its necessary still stimulating the practice of guided physical exercise. It should be intervened with activity programs and specific physical exercise to health promotion. So, this can promote  maintenance or improvement of functional capacity of older people.