Physical activity in the elderly
repercussions on quality of life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-6108.2025.1.47226Keywords:
elderly, physical exercises, quality of lifeAbstract
Introduction: Practice of physical activity is an important intervention for the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. In the elderly, in particular, staying physically active can make a difference in the search for healthy aging.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of the practice of physical exercises by the elderly accompanied by a medical outpatient clinic and its relationship with the quality of life.
Methods: Cross -sectional study, with participants over 60, attended to a university medical outpatient clinic. Questionnaires containing sociodemographic, labor, behavioral and health aspects of users were applied, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Oitem Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Geriatric Depression Scale (EDG). The chi-square test (χ2) and the exact test of Fisher were used in the bivariate analysis; And the T test was used to investigate the average physical activity and sedentary behavior according to the quality of life of the elderly.
Results: The prevalence of physical exercise was 41.4% among the elderly, a frequency considered low, especially in those over 70 years. Being between 60 and 69 years old, being of the white race, practicing the polypharmacy and does not present depression, were associated with greater prevalence of physical activity (p <0.05). Quality of life has been shown especially in individuals with physical limitations, low functional capacity and pain, as well as low self-perception of general health in the elderly of predominant sedentary behavior.
Conclusion: The practice of physical exercise by the elderly was poorly prevalent. The importance of health education is emphasized to better clarify the benefits of practice and contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the elderly.
Downloads
References
1. Rodrigues SLS, Barbosa BJA, Santana CMF de; et al. Physical exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy for reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms in elderly with mild cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Arq. Neuropsiquiatr. 2021;79(12):1129-37.
2. Cassiano, A. N; Nascimento, C. Q. do; Silva, T. S. da et al. Efeitos do exercício físico sobre o risco cardiovascular e qualidade de vida em idosos hipertensos. Cienc Saude Colet. 2020;25(6):2203-2212.
3. Bi X, Wang J. Effects of exercise on glucose and lipid metabolism in elderly patients. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2021;27(7):718-721.
4. Pillatt AP, Nielsson J, Schneider RH. Efeitos do exercício físico em idosos fragilizados: uma revisão sistemática. Fisioter Pesqui. 2019;26(2): 210-7.
5. Ferretti F, Silva MR, Pegoraro F, Baldo E, Sá CA. Chronic pain in the elderly, associated factors and relation with the level and volume of physical activity. BrJP. 2020; 2(1): 3-7.
6. Reia TA, Silva RF, Jacomini AM, Moreno AMG, Silva AB, Monteiro HL, et al. Acute physical exercise and hypertension in the elderly: a systematic review. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2020; 26(4): 347-53.
7. Scianni AA, Faria GS, Silva JS, Benfica PA, Faria CDCM. Efeitos do exercício físico no sistema nervoso do indivíduo idoso e suas consequências funcionais. Rev Bras Ciênc Esporte. 2019; 41(1): 81-95.
8. Mendonça DCB, Fernandes DR, Hernandez SS, Soares FDG, Figueiredo K, Coelho FGM. Physical exercise is effective for neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2021;79(5):447-56.
9. Lemos ECW, Guadagnin EC, Mota CB. Influence of strength training and multicomponent training on the functionality of older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Bras Cineantropom Hum. 2020; 22:e60707.
10. Liu G. Comparison between difference exercises on the health and physical conditioning of the elderly. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2022;28(6):639-42.
11. Nora CD, Lima JD, Teixeira IA, Silva FO, Almeida JS, Monteiro FC, et al. Online physical exercise and the neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia: a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dement Neuropsychol. 2022;16(3):253-60.
12. Organización Mundial de la Salud. OMS. Informe sobre la situacón de la actividad física 2022 [Global status report on physical activity 2022]. Ginebra: Organización Mundial de la Salud; 2023.
13. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. IBGE. Pesquisa nacional de saúde: 2019: ciclos de vida: Brasil / IBGE, Coordenação de Trabalho e Rendimento. - Rio de Janeiro: IBGE, 2021. 139p.
14. Benedetti TB, Mazo GZ, Barros MVG. Aplicação do Questionário Internacional de Atividades Físicas para avaliação do nível de atividades físicas de mulheres idosas: validade concorrente e reprodutibilidade teste-reteste. Rev Bras Ciênc Mov. 2004;12(1):25-34.
15. World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: at a glance. Genebra: Organização Mundial da Saúde; 2020.
16. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Departamento de Análise Epidemiológica e Vigilância de Doenças Não Transmissíveis. Vigitel Brasil 2023: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico: estimativas sobre frequência e distribuição sociodemográfica de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas nas capitais dos 26 estados brasileiros e no Distrito Federal em 2023 [recurso eletrônico]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2023. 131 p. : il.
17. Ciconelli RM, Ferraz MB, Santos W, Meinão I, Quaresma MR. Tradução para a língua portuguesa e validação do questionário genérico de avaliação de qualidade de vida SF-36 (Brasil SF-36). Rev Bras Reumatol. 1999;39(3):143-150.
18. Sheikh JL, Yesavage JA. Geriatric Depression Scale; recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontologist. 1986;5:165-172.
19. Crombie KM, Leitzelar BN, Almassi NE, Mahoney JE, Koltyn KF. Translating a “Stand Up and Move More” intervention by state aging units to older adults in underserved communities: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Medicine. 2019;98(27): e16272.
20. Dourado TEPS, Borges PA, Silva JI, Souza RAG, Andrade ACS. Associação entre atividade física de lazer e conhecimento e participação em programas públicos de atividade física entre idosos brasileiros. Rev Bras Geriatr Gerontol, 2021;24(4):e210148.
21. Nogueira G, Fidelix YL, Nascimento Junior JRA, Oliveira DV. Atividade física e comportamento sedentário como preditores do medo de cair e do riso de sarcopenia em idosos. Fisioter Mov. 2023;36:e36118.0.
22. Dumith SC, Francine VM, Borchardt JL, Alam VS, Silveira FC, Paulitsch RG. Preditores e condições de saúde associados à prática de atividade física moderada e vigorosa em adultos e idosos no sul do Brasil. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2019; 22:e190023.
23. Mielke GI, Stopa SR, Gomes CS, Silva AG, Alves FTA, Vieira MLFP, et al. Atividade física de lazer na população adulta brasileira: Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013 e 2019. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2021;24:e210008, supl.2.
24. Sousa CR, Coutinho JFV, Freire Neto JB, Barbosa RGB, Marques MB, Diniz JL. Factors associated with vulnerability and fragility in the elderly: a cross-sectional study. Rev Bras Enferm. 2021;75(2):e20200399.
25. Silva DF, Santos JWF. Depressão e nível de atividade física em idosos. Lecturas: Educación Física y Deportes. 2019;24(255).
26. Harvey JA, Chastin SFM, Skelton DA. Prevalence of sedentary behavior in older adults: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(12):6645-61.
27. Harvey JA, Chastin SFM, Skelton DA. How sedentary are older people? A systematic review of the amount of sedentary behavior. J Aging Phys Act. 2015;23(3):471-87.
28. Lima WP, Lima CA, Santos RB, Soares WJS, Perracini MR. Utilitarian walking and walking as exercise among community-dwelling older adults: what factors influence it? Rev Bras Geriatr Gerontol. 2020; 23(1):e190255.
29. Zhang S, Gu M, Zhang T, Xu H, Mao S, Zhou W. Effects of exercise therapy on disability, mobility, and quality of life in the elderly with chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Orthop Surg Res. 2023;18(1):513.
30. Jofré-Saldía E, Villalobos-Gorigoitía A, Cofré-Bolados C, Ferrari G, Gea-García GM. Multicomponent training in progressive phases improves functional capacity, physical capacity, quality of life, and exercise motivation in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(3):2755.
31. Sherrington C, Fairhall NJ, Wallbank GK, Tiedemann A, Michaleff ZA, Howard K, et al. Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;1(1):CD012424.
32. Dempsey PC, Matthews CE, Dashti SG, et al. (2020). Sedentary Behavior and Chronic Disease: Mechanisms and Future Directions. J Phys Act Health, 17 (1):52–61.
33. Hills AP, Arena R, Khunti K, et al. (2018). Epidemiology and determinants of type 2 diabetes in south Asia. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 6 (12):966–978.
34. Wilmot EG, Edwardson CL, Achana FA, et al. (2012). Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia, 55(11):2895–905.
35. Patterson R, Mcnamara E, Tainio M, et al. (2018). Sedentary behaviour and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and incident type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose response meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol, 33 (9):811–829.
36. Gilchrist SC, Howard VJ, Akinyemiju T, et al. (2020). Association of Sedentary Behavior With Cancer Mortality in Middle-aged and Older US Adults. JAMA Oncol, 6 (8):1210–1217.
37. Yan Y, Shin JC, Li D, An R. (2017). Sedentary Behavior and Sleep Problems: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Behav Med, 24 (4): 481–492.
38. Eunmi L, Yujeong K. (2019). Effect of university students’ sedentary behavior on stress, anxiety, and depression. Perspect Psychiatr Care, 55 (2):164–169.
39. Li Q, Zhao Z, Yang C, Chen Z, Yin W. Sedentary behavior and risk of depression in older adults: a systematic meta-analysis. Iran J Public Health, 2024; 53(2):293-304.
40. Moreira Neto A, Martins B, Miliatto A, Nucci MP, Batista CS. Can remotely supervised exercise positively affect self-reported depressive symptoms and physical activity levels during social distancing? Psychiatry Research. 2021; 301:113969.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Laura Oliveira Freitas Gorosthides de Moura, Kamila Ribeiro Peixoto, Renata Dantas Queiroz Caetano, Naianne de Paula Nascimento, Mariana de Sousa Nunes Vieira, Heloísa Silva Guerra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
