Physical Activity and Quality of Life in the Elderly

  • Michele Marinho da Silveira Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
  • Ana Paula Potulski Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
  • Marlon Francys Vidmar Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
  • Amanda Sachetti Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
  • Lia Mara Wibelinger Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
Keywords: Elderly, Physical Activity, Quality of Life.

Abstract

Quality of life (QL) is affected by the lifestyle of each person. A healthy lifestyle includes regular physical activities which are of fundamental importance to an active life during the process of aging in humans. Current research verifies the importance of physical activity to prevent disease, achieve better QL and longevity. Articles from the Scielo Database were researched by feeding the keywords physical activity, QL and elderly people either in the title or in the abstract. Dissertations, books and bibliographies between 1985 and 2009 were used. Five out of eight articles were reports on physical activity, QL and the elderly, whilst two articles discussed the importance of physical activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depression in the elderly. The first demonstrated that older people who practiced physical activity did not have difficulties in instrumental activities implied in their day-to-day living; the other reported that QL and well-being were related to social participation of elderly people and that a healthy lifestyle was associated with the habit of physical activity practices and good standards of health and QL. Regular physical activities are highly important for the healthy life and for the independence of the elderly since they slow the physiological changes of aging and improve QL.

Author Biographies

Michele Marinho da Silveira, Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
Fisioterapeuta; Pós-graduada em Ortopedia e Traumatologia pelo Colégio Brasileiro de Estudos Sistêmicos; Mestranda bolsista Capes do programa da pós-graduação em Envelhecimento Humano da Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF. E-mail: mm.silveira@yahoo.com.br
Ana Paula Potulski, Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
Discente da Faculdade de Fisioterapia da Universidade de Passo Fundo – UPF. E-mail: 47383@upf.br
Marlon Francys Vidmar, Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
Discente da Faculdade de Fisioterapia e bolsista Pibic da Universidade de Passo Fundo – UPF. E-mail: marlonfrancys@msn.com
Amanda Sachetti, Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
Discente da Faculdade de Fisioterapia da Universidade de Passo Fundo – UPF. E-mail: amandasachetti@gmail.com
Lia Mara Wibelinger, Universidade de Passo Fundo - UPF
Fisioterapeuta; Mestre e Doutoranda em Gerontologia Biomédica da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUC – RS; Docente da Faculdade de Fisioterapia da Universidade de Passo Fundo – UPF. E-mail: liafisio@yahoo.com.br
Published
2011-09-29
Section
Artigos de Revisão