Assessment of physical fitness and somatic structure of elderly women with mental disorders compared with their intellectually and mentally able counterparts

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Assessment of physical fitness and somatic structure of elderly women with mental disorders compared with their intellectually and mentally able counterparts

Journal Title: Medycyna Sportowa - Year 2018, Vol 34, Issue 2

Abstract

Background. As a consequence of population aging, an increase in mental disorders in the elderly is observed. The age related decrease in physical fitness results in the lack of independence in many elderly people. What is interesting is that there is a relationship between mental disorders of the elderly and the level of their physical fitness. The aim of the study was to compare the results of motor fitness and somatotypes of elderly persons with and without mental disorders. Material and methods. The research was conducted in a sample of 60 women. The research group (n = 30) included women with mental disorders while the control group comprised women (n = 30) without any history of mental illness. Fullerton Fitness Test was used to assess physical fitness and a certified bioimpedance weighing scale was used to assess the participants’ somatotypes. In the assessment of intergroup differences, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test was used to assess the significance of differences between two independent groups. Results. In the studied groups, statistically insignificant differences in somatic structure were observed. All examined women obtained an elevated BMI (about 27) and had an increased percentage of body fat exceeding 36% BF. The motor efficiency of the examined women in the tests for the strength of upper limbs (WR = 0.12) and lower limbs (WR = 0.19) was at a similar level. Statistically significant differences in favor of non-disabled women were obtained in the assessment of upper flexibility (WR = 1.36) and lower body (WR = 1.02) and coordination and balance (WR = 7.40). Conclusions. There were no statistically significant differences between the women with mental disorders and the non-disabled women, taking into account the level and degree of differentiation of the majority of traits examined and somatic building indices. In the assessment of motor fitness, women with disabilities were characterized by lower levels of flexibility and coordination.<br/><br/>

Authors and Affiliations

Paweł Gąsior

Keywords

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EP ID EP348349
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