107-FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF ELDERLY : ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY OF FLEXIBILITY

INTRODUCTION Human aging is a process of changes in various systems of the body. Degenerative wear and tear are perceptible, irreversible and progressive when the individual reaches this stage of life. Such wear decreases and limits functional capacity, resulting in a progressive decrease in health condition and increased dependence on daily activities. Among the daily necessities is the body mobility, which depends directly on various physical capacities, among them, flexibility. This physiological capacity provides the motor quality of amplitude, as much for thearticulations as the muscular "elasticity". The functional performance offlexibilityhas a directinfluenceonbodymobility. The ligaments, muscles, tendonsandconnectivetissues (Pavel andAvoy, apud Farinatti, 2008) are involved in thisprocess. Accordingto ACSM, functionalflexibility ability is related to the ability to maintain autonomy in daily activities. According to Suzuki apudFarinatti (2008), diminished levels of amplitude activities, even in Daily Life Activities / ADLs, cause performance difficulties, reducing fundamental motor patterns such as gait. This means that with the aging process, there is a restriction in the range of joint motion and muscle elasticity, progressively threatening the individual's functional independence. In the elderly, besides the age, the environment and the daily activities themselves, are limiting factors, which point to inability of amplitude (Johnson and Smith, 1970). This disability is accelerated from an average of 30 to 40 years of age (Sugahara et al., 1981), being this one of the five indicators of fragility (Pereira and Araújo 1997). The lifeexpectancyofhumansisnowincreasing.Amongotherfactors, thelifestyleoutcomehasbeenpointed out as anaspectassociatedwiththeagingprocess. Adopting a healthylifestyleofan individual can minimize ordelaythedeleterious effects of aging. The practice of physical activity as one of the components of a healthy lifestyle contributes to maintaining flexibility as well as improving quality of life. It is revealed in several studies related to activity in general and systematized walking programs that such practices generate positive results on risk factors related to mortality and improvement of the functional capacity of flexibility (Caromano et al. (2006), Caromano et al. (2007), Landi et al. (2008). Carvalho et al. (2008), indicates that regular training of flexibility, contributes to maintenance of functionality and prevention of falls and fractures. Complementing, they mention Rebelatto et al. (2006) that the training of multi-components of long duration of flexibility and strength in elderly women contribute to the limitation of natural losses of aging. The reviews by Baker et al. (2007), on simultaneous training of strength, aerobic resistance and balance training, would provide efficacy in the prevention of falls in the elderly. Suzuki Studies. (1983) cite that the application of guided exercises that stimulate the musculoskeletal nervous system, above usual, with overload at adequate and specific levels, promotes higher quality in the joint and muscular amplitude levels, consequently preventing osteomioarticular lesions. Considering the above, the paper presents and discusses the results of the evaluation of the flexibility of the lower and upper limbs of a group of elderly participants in the activities of SESC Rondônia. The following specific objectives were determined: a) Report on the level of flexibility of the elderly; B) Make a comparison by gender; C) Compare the results by age group; And d) Compare levels of flexibility between lower limbs and upper limbs.


INTRODUCTION
Human aging is a process of changes in various systems of the body.Degenerative wear and tear are perceptible, irreversible and progressive when the individual reaches this stage of life.Such wear decreases and limits functional capacity, resulting in a progressive decrease in health condition and increased dependence on daily activities.Among the daily necessities is the body mobility, which depends directly on various physical capacities, among them, flexibility.This physiological capacity provides the motor quality of amplitude, as much for thearticulations as the muscular "elasticity".
The functional performance offlexibilityhas a directinfluenceonbodymobility.The ligaments, muscles, tendonsandconnectivetissues (Pavel andAvoy, apud Farinatti, 2008) are involved in thisprocess.Accordingto ACSM, functionalflexibility ability is related to the ability to maintain autonomy in daily activities.According to Suzuki apudFarinatti ( 2008), diminished levels of amplitude activities, even in Daily Life Activities / ADLs, cause performance difficulties, reducing fundamental motor patterns such as gait.This means that with the aging process, there is a restriction in the range of joint motion and muscle elasticity, progressively threatening the individual's functional independence.
In the elderly, besides the age, the environment and the daily activities themselves, are limiting factors, which point to inability of amplitude (Johnson and Smith, 1970).This disability is accelerated from an average of 30 to 40 years of age (Sugahara et al., 1981), being this one of the five indicators of fragility (Pereira and Araújo 1997).
The lifeexpectancyofhumansisnowincreasing.Amongotherfactors, thelifestyleoutcomehasbeenpointed out as anaspectassociatedwiththeagingprocess.Adopting a healthylifestyleofan individual can minimize ordelaythedeleterious effects of aging.The practice of physical activity as one of the components of a healthy lifestyle contributes to maintaining flexibility as well as improving quality of life.It is revealed in several studies related to activity in general and systematized walking programs that such practices generate positive results on risk factors related to mortality and improvement of the functional capacity of flexibility (Caromano et al. (2006), Caromano et al. (2007), Landi et al. (2008).Carvalho et al. (2008), indicates that regular training of flexibility, contributes to maintenance of functionality and prevention of falls and fractures.Complementing, they mention Rebelatto et al. (2006) that the training of multi-components of long duration of flexibility and strength in elderly women contribute to the limitation of natural losses of aging.The reviews by Baker et al. (2007), on simultaneous training of strength, aerobic resistance and balance training, would provide efficacy in the prevention of falls in the elderly.Suzuki Studies.(1983) cite that the application of guided exercises that stimulate the musculoskeletal nervous system, above usual, with overload at adequate and specific levels, promotes higher quality in the joint and muscular amplitude levels, consequently preventing osteomioarticular lesions.Considering the above, the paper presents and discusses the results of the evaluation of the flexibility of the lower and upper limbs of a group of elderly participants in the activities of SESC Rondônia For theassessmentofflexibility, the Fullerton physical fitness testwasused, followingtheRickiliorientation; Jones (year?).Thisisoneofthespecifictests for theelderlypopulation.
For theanalysisofthe data, the item BatteryFlexibilityof Fullerton apud Rickiliwas taken into account; Jones (1991), which identifies the score by age group for the elderly, whether for men or women.
For statistical analysis of the data, the participants were organized into two groups: from 60 to 69 years; And from 70 to 79 years.Descriptive statistics were used, through the identification of the means, of the F-Test for analysis of variances; And Test T for equivalence of the means of both groups.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Regarding the flexibility of the upper limbs, it was observed that both groups are in the category "Very Poor"; (Table 1) presenting those with 60 to 69 years greater disability in this category of analysis (Figure 1).Although the best results were from the 70-79 group (Figure 1), the tests point to a non-significant difference.Table 1: Individual and average classification of upper limb test.
In the lower limbs flexion test, the age range of 60-69 was classified as "Very Poor" and those of 70-79 at the "Regular" level (Table 2).
Table 2: Individual and average classification of upper limb test.
Although the best results were observed in the 70-79 age groups (Figure 2), there was no significant difference between the groups.
Figure 2: Graphical representation of the results of the flexibility test of the lower limbs.
The results found are of concern in that all the elderly evaluated, both with respect to flexibility of the lower limbs and of the upper limbs, are in the category Very Franco, and indicating low levels of this physical capacity.Those of more advanced age, who are in the age group of 70 to 79 years presented better levels of flexibility than the group between 60 and 69 years.It is known that as thechronological age increases, thereis a simultaneousdecrease in joint and muscular amplitude levels.
In additionto age, otherfactorssuch as lifestyle, genetics, andenvironmentalconditions may influence the results of functional capacity, including flexibility.This may be a justification for the older group presenting better levels of flexibility.
In general, the findings point to significant limitations in joint mobility and muscle elongation in the elderly, as well as greater difficulty in performing daily activities as well as greater vulnerability to the occurrence of injuries.
CONCLUSION The levels of flexibility of the elderly, both of the lower and upper limbs are in theclassification "VeryPoor", signalingdeficits in thisindicatoroffunctionalcapacity.
The results point to the need to offer programs that meet the specificity of flexibility given its importance in maintaining the health of the elderly.
. The following specific objectives were determined: a) Report on the level of flexibility of the elderly; B) Make a comparison by gender; C) Compare the results by age group; And d) Compare levels of flexibility between lower limbs and upper limbs.METHODOLOGY To reach the proposed objectives, a documentary-descriptive-quantitative study was carried out.Data from the Social Service of Commerce / SESC,AssistanceProgram, collected by the Social Work with Seniors/TSI and Sports Physical Development/DEF, from the SESC/Rondônia/Brasil Regional Department, were used.The data collected are part of a broad work involving the physical-functional evaluation of the elderly, carried out since 2012, in 4 municipalities of the state of Rondônia, under the responsibility of a team of the institution, composed of social workers, Physical Education professionals and Trainees.The data analyzed here were collected in 2015, with 10 elderly individuals between 60 and 79 years of age, of both sexes, in themunicipalityof Vilhena/RO.The teamfollowedtheprotocolused in the SESC/TSI-DEF programproposal.

Figure 1 :
Graphical representation of the results of the flexibility test of the upper limbs.