Selected Elements of Lifestyle and the Level of Functional Fitness in Older Women

The appropriate level of functional fitness is a very important element for seniors to maintain self-reliance in daily life. The aim of this research was to assess sociodemographic differences, selected elements of lifestyle, and functional fitness in the older residents of social welfare homes and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-02, Vol.19 (4), p.2066
Main Authors: Kaczorowska, Antonina, Sebastjan, Anna, Kołodziej, Małgorzata, Fortuna, Małgorzata, Ignasiak, Zofia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Activities of daily living
Age
Body mass
Body mass index
Body size
Consent
Contraindications
Exercise
Flexibility
Institutionalization
Lifestyles
Motor ability
Older people
Physical activity
Physical fitness
Physiology
Sarcopenia
Self-assessment
Weightlifting
Womens health
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Summary:The appropriate level of functional fitness is a very important element for seniors to maintain self-reliance in daily life. The aim of this research was to assess sociodemographic differences, selected elements of lifestyle, and functional fitness in the older residents of social welfare homes and community dwellers Methods: The analysed group comprised 693 women aged 65-79, including 173 subjects living in social welfare homes and 520 community-dwelling women. Basic anthropometric features were measured, and functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test. Basic sociodemographic characteristics, as well as data on health self-assessment and selected elements of lifestyle, were also collected. The female residents of social welfare homes were found to have a lower body mass index (BMI), and they came from smaller cities, compared with community-dwelling older women. Furthermore, almost a third of them had no children and completed primary or vocational education. They also reported smoking, poor health conditions, and lack of physical activity. The functional fitness of women living in social welfare homes was significantly lower than in community-dwelling women. As seniors living in social welfare homes have such a significantly reduced level of functional fitness, compared with their peers living independently, it is necessary to include them in adaptive physical activity and diversified daily activities.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19042066