A importância da utilização de um programa de exercícios físicos no desempenho motor e risco de quedas em idosos institucionalizados: um estudo de caso

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is a natural process that leads to changes in the body and physiological systems as an individual ages. These changes are expected, and an active lifestyle can contribute to healthy aging. However, conditions such as social isolation and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the development of chronic pathologies, which is very common in long term care institutions for the elderly.Objective:Based on this, the objective was toevaluate the motor performance and fall risk in institutionalized elderly individuals who underwent a physical exercise program.Methodology:This is a quantitative experimentalstudy conducted in a long-term care institution for the elderly. The study initially had five participants, and only one completed the program at the end. For the initial evaluation (AV1), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Anterior Functional Reach Test (AFRT), and muscle strength test of the upper limbs were performed using a digital manual dynamometer, and the sit-to-stand test of the lower limbs was performed in 30seconds. Then, a physical exercise program was applied once a week for approximately 45 minutes for 10 weeks. At the end of the program, a revaluation (AV2) was performed.Results:The exercise program presented positive results in all analysed variables. An improvement was observed in the BBS test, going from 32 points in AV1 to 52 points in AV2. In the TUGT, the participant completed the course in 16 seconds in AV1, reducing the time to 10 seconds in AV2. In the AFRT, the anterior displacement was 6 cm in AV1, increasing to 16 cm in AV2. In the palm grip test using the digital manual dynamometer, the right upper limb (RUL) went from 15.2 in AV1 to 19.4 in AV2, and the left upper limb (LUL)went from 14.7 to 18.5 in AV2. In the sit to-stand test in 30 seconds, the participant was able to stand up only once in AV1 and 10 times in AV2, moving from high fall risk to low fall propensity.Conclusion:In conclusion the proposed physical exercise program had a beneficialeffect on motor performance and fall risk when compared to AV1 and AV2. Further studies with the proposed methodology using a larger sample and a control group are necessary to prove the efficacy of the proposed program.