NR 56 11 AN TRO PO MO TO RY KA THE EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BODY MASS INDEX OCENA POZIOMU SPRAWNOŚCI FIZYCZNEJ OSÓB STARSZYCH W FUNKCJI Zofia Ignasiak*, Anna Skrzek**, Anna Sebastjan*** *** Prof. Dr. Habil., Department of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland *** Dr. Habil., Assoc. Prof., Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland *** PhD studies, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Poland Key words: Senior Test,, elderly women Słowa kluczowe: Senior Test,, kobiety starsze SUMMARY STRESZCZENIE Introduction. Physical fitness plays significant role in keeping the optimal health and health behaviours, within each period of ontogenesis. However, in case of elderly people, it is of great importance, as it enables them to remain independent in everyday activities and to maintain family and social contacts. At the same time physical fitness is connected to a large extent with the diet and therefore with the (Body Mass Index) level. Aim of the study. To evaluate the physical fitness of elderly women, considered in the aspect. Material and methods. The research works were conducted in the Department of Biostructure among 138 women within the age range of 55 70 years (x _ = 62.54 years). The examinations included bone mineral density, body composition, posture, basic somatic parameters, efficiency of respiratory and circulatory systems and physical fitness measured by means of Senior Test. The results were evaluated statistically, regarding the basic characteristics (x _, s, v) as well as the variance analysis between values and the physical fitness level. Results and conclusions. Achieved results indicate that the level of muscular power of the upper extremity and the spinal range of motion, as well as the hip joints, are not combined with. Other tests revealed negative connections with the Body Mass Index, especially when values exceeded 35 kg/m 2. Wstęp. W każdym okresie ontogenezy sprawność fizyczna ma istotne znaczenie dla optymalnego utrzymania zdrowia i zachowań zdrowotnych. Jednak szczególnego znaczenia nabiera u osób w wieku starszym, umożliwiając im utrzymanie niezależności w czynnościach dnia codziennego i kontaktach rodzinnych oraz społecznych. Równocześnie sprawność fizyczna w dużym stopniu wiąże się ze sposobem żywienia, a zatem z poziomem. Cel pracy. Ocena sprawności fizycznej u kobiet w wieku starszym ujęta w kategoriach. Materiał i metody. Badania zostały przeprowadzone wśród 138 kobiet w przedziale wieku 55 70 lat (x _ = 62,54 lat). Badania odbyły się w Katedrze Biostruktury i miały charakter kompleksowy. U każdej osoby oceniono gęstość mineralną kości, skład ciała, postawę ciała, podstawowe parametry somatyczne, sprawność funkcjonowania układu oddechowego i krążenia oraz sprawność fizyczną za pomocą zestawów prób określonych jako Test Seniora. Na potrzeby niniejszej pracy wybrano Test Seniora oraz. Wyniki zostały opracowane statystycznie z wykorzystaniem podstawowych charakterystyk (x _, s, v) oraz analizy wariancji pomiędzy wartościami i poziomem sprawności fizycznej. Wyniki i wnioski. Uzyskane wyniki badań wskazują, że poziom siły mięśni kończyny górnej oraz zakres ruchów kręgosłupa i stawów biodrowych nie wiążą się z wartościami. Pozostałe próby wykazują ujemne związki ze wskaźnikiem masy ciała, zwłaszcza wtedy, gdy wartości przekraczają 35 kg/m 2. 67
Zofia Ignasiak, Anna Skrzek, Anna Sebastjan Introduction Optimal physical activity determines the best possible health state within each period of ontogenesis. However, in case of elderly people it is of great importance, as it enables them to remain independent in everyday activities and to maintain family and social contacts. The authors of numerous scientific elaborations, which have appeared in recent years, have underlined, mainly from a medical viewpoint, the benefits from performing the systematic physical activity [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. However, it needs to be stressed that positive health and physical activity may also significantly influence the socio-economical aspect of human life and the priorities of the Public Health Policy. Regular motor activity results in more effective functioning of internal systems of the organism as well as the motor system; it enables to keep adequate body mass and decreases the risk of many diseases [7, 8, 9,, 11, 12]. Physical fitness combines with the style of life and diet, and with the level of the Body Mass Index. is mostly used as one of the simplest indexes introducing significant item of information concerning the general body build as well as malnutrition or obesity. It is also regarded by many researchers as a significant risk factor of many diseases, not only metabolic ones [13, 14, 15, 16]. High values of the Body Mass Index, which introduce the information on obesity, usually correlate negatively with the tests evaluating the state of physical fitness. Excessive amount of fatty tissue may results in limitation of the range of motion within joints, fatigability and therefore aversion to physical exercises [11, 17, 18, 19]. The sedentary lifestyle of elderly people who watch too much television and live on usually inappropriate diet is conductive to lipogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the state of physical fitness of elderly women, considering the aspect. Material and method The researches were conducted among 139 women, aged 55 70 years (x _ = 62.54 years), within a framework of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Grant no. NN404075337, in the University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw Biokinetics Laboratory of Department of Biostructure. The research project was very complex and included examinations of body composition, bone mineral density, posture, basic somatic parameters, efficiency of respiratory and circulatory systems, psychomotor efficiency (Vienna Test System) as well as the physical fitness Senior Test []. The aim of research work was realized by means of the Body Mass Index () and six tests anticipated to assess the physical fitness. These allowed for evaluation the flexibility, muscular power of upper and lower part of the body, circulatory system efficiency together with the agility and dynamic balance. The basic characteristics (x _, s, v), simple regression equation and Pearson s correlation were considered in the elaboration. The significance level was 0.05. Results The mean value of the Body Mass Index indicated insignificant overweight of the patients (Table 1). However, the dissemination of results was considerable within a range of 18.5 to 47 kg/m 2. The number of patients, who exceeded the obesity threshold, was 25% (n = 36). The Chair Stand Test was aimed at evaluating muscular power of the lower extremities and the pelvis. The women characterized by the lower values of revealed the significantly better results (Fig. 1A), and thus was confirmed by the simple regression as well as the correlation value (Tables 2, 3). The muscular power of the upper extremities did not reveal significant connections with (Fig. 1B). The 6-minute Gait Test was aimed at the evaluation of circulatory system efficiency. Longer distance was covered in anticipated time by the patients characterized by the lower Body Mass Index (Fig. 1C). Both regression equation and correlation indicated the significance of this correlation (Tables 2, 3). Another test allowed for the evaluation of the range of motion, especially within the spinal column and the hip joints (forward bend). The results of this test did not reveal statistically significant correlations with the Body Mass Index (Fig. 1D). The amplitude of divergence of results was very considerable, since it included the values either negative (very low flexibility) or positive (wide range of motion). Similarly, the significant dissemination of results concerned the flexibility of the upper part of the body and resulted from the same reasons (either negative or positive values). The simple regression equation and the correlation were statistically significant, and indicated that lipomatosis was inversely proportional to the range of motion within the joints of upper extremities as well as the shoulder girdle (Fig. 1E). The last test evaluated the agility and the dynamic balance. Once more the superior results were achieved by the women characterized by the lower (Fig. 1F). The higher value of the index, the more time was needed to perform the test. 68
The evaluation of physical fitness of elderly people in accordance with the Body Mass Index Table 1. Statistical characteristics of selected somatic and motoric parameters in elderly women (N =139) Feature _ x s v Min Max Age [years] 62,54 3,82 6, 55,00 69,93 Body height [cm] 160,24 5,71 3,56 145, 172,00 Body mass [kg] 70,31 12,22 17,38 47,30 117, 27,37 4,49 16,42 18,51 47,01 Chair stand [number] 17,47 4,11 23,50 8,00 30,00 Arm curl [number] 21,24 5,23 24,60,00 37,00 6-minute walk [m] 561,63 84,15 14,98 229,00 787,50 Chair sit and reach [cm] 7,38 8,67 117,49-22,00 29,00 Back scratch [cm] 0,33 7,41 2262,23-40,00 16,00 8-foot up-and-go [s] 5,13 0,85 16,67 3,51 9,00 Table 2. Simple regression coefficient of motoric tests, as a function of the Body Mass Index Dependent feature y Equation coefficient y = b 0 + b 1 Standardized coefficient b 0 SE of b 0 t p b 1 SE of b 1 t p b SE of b Chair stand 24,04 2,09 11,51 0,0000 0,240 0,075 3,18 0,0018 0,262 0,082 Arm curl 21,87 2,75 7,94 0,0000 0,023 0,099 0,23 0,8197 0,0 0,085 6-minute walk 655,02 43,62 15,02 0,0000 3,412 1,573 2,17 0,0318 0,182 0,084 Chair sit and reach 11,93 4,56 2,62 0,0098 0,166 0,164 1,01 0,3129 0,086 0,085 Back scratch 15,47 3,68 4,21 0,0000 0,553 0,133 4,17 0,0001 0,336 0,080 8-foot up-and-go 4,01 0,44 9, 0,0000 0,041 0,016 2,59 0,08 0,216 0,083 Table 3. Correlations of examined parameters in a group of elderly women Feature Age Body height Body mass Chair stand Arm curl 6-minute walk Chair sit and reach Back scratch 8-foot up-and-go test Body height 0,27 0,34 0,07 0,11 0,11 0,05 0,03 0,14 0,06 Body mass 0,28 0,34 0,91 0,29 0,03 0,15 0,06 0,25 0,18 0,18 0,07 0,91 0,26 0,02 0,18 0,09 0,34 0,22 Chair stand 0,15 0,11 0,29 0,26 0,41 0,45 0,11 0,07 0,38 Arm curl 0,24 0,11 0,03 0,02 0,41 0,36 0, 0,13 0,34 6-minute walk 0,16 0,05 0,15 0,18 0,45 0,36 0,02 0,17 0,42 Chair sit and reach 0,03 0,03 0,06 0,09 0,11 0, 0,02 0,26 0,22 Back scratch 0,06 0,14 0,25 0,34 0,07 0,13 0,17 0,26 0,25 8-foot up-and-go test 0,22 0,06 0,18 0,22 0,38 0,34 0,42 0,22 0,25 69
Zofia Ignasiak, Anna Skrzek, Anna Sebastjan Chair stand [number] Arm curl [number] A 32 30 28 26 24 22 18 16 14 12 8 6 40 35 30 25 15 C 5 Back scratch [cm] Chair sit and reach [cm] B 30 0 - - D 15 5 0-5 - -15 - -25 E F 800 9 6 minute walk [m] 700 600 500 400 300 8 foot up and go [s] 8 7 6 5 4 0 3 Fig. 1. A F Linear approximation of the Senior Test, as a function of the Body Mass Index 70
The evaluation of physical fitness of elderly people in accordance with the Body Mass Index Discussion Systematic physical activity influences beneficially the circulatory and respiratory systems [2, 11, 21, 22]. As we underlined, the interest on physical activity has recently grown. It is in spite of the fact that according to the statistics quoted by numerous authors the considerable number of adults and elderly people (in per cent) spend their spare time passively. In general, the lower level of motor activity goes hand in hand with the lower social and educational status, income obtained and the worse place of residence [13, 15, 23]. Comparing the achieved results to examinations of other age groups in Poland, the favourable level of physical fitness is observed [9, 24]. It might be connected with independent living and the lifestyle. The results of examined women are promising, comparing with the US standards, elaborated by Rikli and Jones []. Koster et al. [13] observed the decrease of general physical fitness, along with the increase of, and this tendency was visibly greater among women than men. Similar results were achieved by Simoes et al. [19]. The following observations are made comparing the correlations between the Body Mass Index and results of examinations. The muscular power of the upper part of the body does not reveal significant correlations with. The force level of these muscle groups in elderly people might have been less significant, with regard to involution process within the motor system. Everyday activities, in general, do not require considerable amount of strength but are connected to a greater extent with motility of a hand and manipulatory activities. There is also lack of significant correlations between and the flexibility of the lower part of the body. It may results from the fact, that in case of women, the fatty tissue is deposited more often within the region of hips and thighs than the abdomen area (gynoidal obesity) and thereby does not limit significantly the motion of the hip joints. Nevertheless, we achieved significant correlations between the Body Mass Index () and the results of tests aimed at evaluation of the muscular power of the lower extremities, circulatory system efficiency as well as the agility and the dynamic balance. It needs to be underlined; these trials refer, first of all, to the efficiency of the postural, antigravity muscles. It suggests that these muscles, responsible for locomotion and supporting the body, may be subjected to the slower involution processes. To conclude, the results achieved in our own examinations do not coincide entirely with the outcomes of above quoted authors. Therefore, the problem of obesity and correlated physical fitness as well as the range of motion within joints in elderly people requires further studies and observations. Conclusions 1. The higher values of are inversely proportional to the muscular power of the lower extremities, circulatory system efficiency and the range of motion within the joints of upper extremities as well as the agility and dynamic balance. 2. The correlation between and muscular power of the upper extremities, as well as the spinal and hip joints range of motion, was not observed. 3. The level of physical fitness among Wroclaw women meets the standards, worked out for American population and is higher in comparison with the results of age groups of other parts of Poland. LITERATURE PIŚMIENNICTWO [1] MacAuley D: Potencjalne korzyści płynące z aktywności fizycznej podejmowanej przez ludzi starszych. Medicina Sportiva, 01; 5(4): 229 236. [2] Malina R: Aktywność fizyczna a rokowanie długowieczności. Medcina Sportiva, 02; 6(1): 9 16. [3] Skrzek A: Trening zdrowotny a procesy inwolucyjne narządu ruchu u kobiet. Studia i Monografie, Wrocław, AWF, 05; 77. [4] Strotmeyer ES, de Rekeneire N, Schwartz AV, Resnick HE, Goodpaster BH, Faulkner KA, Shorr RI, Vinik AI, Harris TB, Newman AB: Sensory and motor peripheral nerve function and lower-extremity quadriceps strength: the health, aging and body composition study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 09; 57(11): 04. [5] Szwarc H: Sprawność fizyczna i zdrowie osób starszych. Kultura Fizyczna, 1996; 9 : 7. [6] Thornby MA: Równowaga i upadki u osłabionej starszej osoby: przegląd literatury. Rehabilitacja Medyczna, 1997; 1(4): 11 18. [7] Bień B: Wielkie problemy geriatryczne jako przyczyna upośledzenia sprawności osób w późnej starości. Gerontologia Polska, 01; 9(2): 32 38. [8] Blair SN: Physical activity, fitness and coronary heart disease; in: Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T (eds): Physical activity, fitness and health. Champaign IL, Human Kinetics, 1994: 579 590. [9] Ignasiak Z, Skrzek A, Dąbrowska D: Bone mineral density and body composition of senior female students of the 71
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