Health-Related Functional Fitness within the Elderly Communities of Five European Countries: The in Common Sports Study

The level of actual functional fitness of men from different living environments in Poland and associations with health - a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to assess the differences in functional fitness between older men living in social welfare homes (SWH) and men living in society.

METHODS

The study involved 474 men aged 60-84, including 134 men living in social welfare homes and 340 men living in community. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess functional fitness. Body weight and height were measured. Moreover, data on age, education, taking up physical activity and place of residence were collected.

RESULTS

A significantly lower level of functional fitness of SWH residents was demonstrated compared to men living in the society (p < 0.001). A significant percentage of seniors living in SWH did not reach the normal range for the Polish population. Also, the level of education, physical activity and health self-assessment differentiated the institutionalized men from those living in the community.

CONCLUSIONS

The place of residence is a factor that differentiates seniors' functional fitness levels. The reduced fitness of social welfare home residents may also result from the low level of their daily physical activity, education and health. Introducing physical activity programs for elderly residents in social welfare homes seems reasonable.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN platform as 18,225,729; December 2020.

Correction: Mollinedo-Cardalda et al. Health-Related Functional Fitness within the Elderly Communities of Five European Countries: The in Common Sports Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12810

There was an error in the original publication [...].

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

BACKGROUND

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.