Selected factors influencing physical fitness in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction. In effect of the ageing process, there are involutional changes in older adults both in the mental and in the physical spheres. Some factors may slow down the ageing process. Physical activity is one of these factors. Physical ability is one of the most important indicators of quality of life of older adults, and it can be shaped by physical activity. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess chosen factors that influence physical ability of adults older than 65 years. Material and methods. The study involved 63 older adults. The criterion for inclusion in the study was the age - older than 65 years. There were 37 women and 26 men in the study population. All the subjects were able to walk without assistance, and they had no contraindications to do functional tests. We used a questionnaire of our own design, three SPPB trials, Up&Go test; we calculated the BMI indices and assessed depression scale. Results. We found that older adults rarely engage in physical activity. The low level of physical activity of the older adults was reflected in equally low physical ability level, as assessed by functional tests. We found a directly proportional dependence between body mass and the level of functional limitations and risk of falls. Conclusion. In our functional tests, we found a statistically significant correlation with regard to age and BMI index.