Does the use of third age fitness centers by the elderly modify morphofunctional parameters?/O uso de academias da terceira idade por idosos modifica parametros morfofuncionais?

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Health sciences 2012-01, Vol.34 (1), p.31
• Main Authors: Esteves, Joao Victor Del Conti, Andreato, Leonardo Vidal, Pastorio, Juliana Jacques, Versuti, Juliana Karen Beraldi, Almeida, Hemerli De Cinque, de Moraes, Solange Marta Franzoi
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 1679-9291
• DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v34i1.8354

The objective of the study was to analyze the morphofunctional characteristics from users of Third Age Fitness Centers (TAFC) in the city of Maringa, Parana State. The study involved 86 individuals - 28 men (67.8 [+ or -] 5.4 years of age old) and 58 women (67.6 [+ or -] 6.0 years old). The morphofunctional parameters were divided into anthropometric (Body Mass Index - BMI and Waist-Hip Ratio - WHR) and functional (blood pressure - BP). The method used for data processing was descriptive statistics. With regard to nutritional status, men showed higher BMI values compared to women. As for regional body fat distribution, women had higher WHR when separated by different strata, although in absolute values the male average was higher. As for BP, men showed a trend for higher values, but both genders had reductions in BP values in the reassessment, especially women. We can conclude that the three to six-month period of practice at ATA was not able to produce significant changes in the morphologic parameters of individuals over 60 years of age old, regardless of gender. Changes in cardiovascular function indicate important reductions in blood pressure levels, indicating that individualized prescription and regular physical activity are essentials to achieving most significant improvements. Keywords: elderly, blood pressure, TAFC, WHR, BMI. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar as caracteristicas morfofuncionais de usuarios de Academias da Terceira Idade (ATIs) na cidade de Maringa, Estado do Parana. O estudo contou com 86 individuos (28 homens (67,8 [+ or -] 5,4 anos) e 58 mulheres (67,6 [+ or -] 6,0 anos)). Os parametros morfofuncionais foram divididos em antropometricos (Indice de Massa Corporal - IMC e a Relacao Cintura-Quadril - RCQ) e funcionais (niveis pressoricos - PA). Foi usada a estatistica descritiva para tratamento dos dados. Em relacao ao estado nutricional, homens apresentaram valores maiores de IMC em comparacao as mulheres. Quanto a distribuicao regional de gordura, as mulheres apresentaram RCQ mais alto quando separados pelos diferentes estratos, embora em valores absolutos a media masculina tenha sido maior. Quanto a PA, homens mostraram tendencia de valores mais elevados, mas ambos os generos tiveram reducoes nos valores de PA na reavaliacao, especialmente as mulheres. E possivel concluir que o periodo de tres a seis meses de pratica nas ATIs nao foi capaz de produzir mudancas significativas nos parametros morfologicos de individuos acima de 60 an