Nível de atividade física diária e percepção de autoestima e autoimagem em idosos que praticam exercício físico

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether there is an association between the level of daily physical activity and the perception of self-esteem and self-image of the elderly who practice supervised physical exercise. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a Physical Therapy Clinic for the elderly. The sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-Esteem and Self-Image questionnaire developed and validated by Luiz Alberto Steglich (1978), a pedometer - Digi-Walker Yamax SW 700 were used to assess the level of physical activity and a diary of records. Results: A total of 21 individuals were evaluated, with a mean age of 72.0 ± 6.5 years, 10 (47.6%) females and 11 (52.4%) males. Of the elderly in the sample, 76.2% are retired, and only 1 (4.8%) participant performs physical activity outside the clinic. No one smoked and 38.1% used alcoholic beverages, 52.4% used polypharmacy, and 76.2% were classified as sedentary. Conclusion: This behavioral modality can provide an improvement in self-esteem, since most of the elderly participants had high self-esteem and self-image and perform supervised physical training 1 to 5 times a week.