Postura corporal de idosos integrantes de grupo de atividade física

Abstract

Brasil has experienced a quick aging process of the population. In face of the changes caused by aging and its consequences to elderly people, researches that focus on these changes are important in the sense that preventive and even corrective measures can be taken in order to favor and improve the life quality. This study aims at characterize elderly participants of a physical activities group in relation to referred pathologies, flexibility, Body Mass Index (BMI) and pain location. The data was collected from evaluation sheets with identification data, health, physical activity practice and flexibility measures through Schober Test, BMI calculated from weight and height, and the identification of referred pain identified in a human figure, front and back. The research subjects are from a health promotion group, which exists since 2009 in the community of São José neighborhood, Camobi, Santa Maria. The results of this paper about the elderly people from the mentioned community reveal that the female gender predominates. The most cited diseases were arterial hypertension and diabetes; most of them use medication; almost half of them practice physical activities three times a week; the prevailing distribution of the pain location indicates the backbone; the average age is seventy years old, the average lumbosacral mobility measure is 4.75 cm, value close to the normality, and the average BMI distribution is 27.06 Kg/m², which is close to the obesity indicative parameter, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In face of these findings and values, it is possible to verify what the most common changes are in the elderly group studied, characterize their clinical manifestations of aging and, also clarify and contribute to the already existent concepts about human aging.