Fitness In Elderly. A review study

      Аннотация: Physical fitness is defined as “the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue and with ample energy to enjoy leisure-time pursuits and to meet unforeseen emergencies”. Decline in physical fitness in older adults are associated with higher risks of fall and injury. Changes in balance, mobility, and muscle strength are associated with aging and interfere with performance of activities of daily living and functional capacity. Furthermore, older adults tend to be less active with advancing age, although it is well-known that physical activity is important for independent living, prevention of chronic health problems, and quality of life. It is believed that much of the loss is preventable and even reversible through early detection of physical weakness and appropriate activity intervention. The design of interventions requires an assessment of the levels of fitness among the individuals. Thus this text consists of all the available physical fitness test batteries that can be conducted in elderly population and a comparison of the components of various batteries along with their reliability and validity to find out the most suitable one.

Ключевые слова: Functional fitness, Elderly, test batteries