Abstract Background: Walking training can be an adequate choice to improve physical and psychological conditions in the elderly. Studies have reported positive changes in the quality of life, depressive symptoms and pain. However, baseline characteristics of volunteers have been controlled, and some of previous studies have not investigated these parameters concomitantly. Objectives: To assess the effects of moderate-intensity walking on quality of life, depressive symptoms and physical pain in physically active elderly individuals. Methods: Sixty-nine subjects were recruited and allocated into two groups: training group (n = 40) and control group (n = 29). All were evaluated for quality of life, depressive symptoms and pain. Training group underwent 40 minutes of walking (50-70% of maximum heart rate), 3 days a week for 12 weeks. For statistical analysis, we used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student’s t-test and Split-Plot ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc, Pearson correlation. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: After 12 weeks of training, depressive symptoms and physical pain significantly reduced in the training group (2.7 ± 2.4 to 1.9 ± 1.8 and 4.3 ± 3.1 to 2.8 ± 2.9, respectively) compared with baseline values, and remained unchanged in the control group. There was a positive, moderate correlation between depressive symptoms and pain (r = 0.30). Conclusion: physically active elderly individuals with good quality of life show improved depressive symptoms after a short-term moderate-intensity walking training program.

Este estudo visou verificar se havia associação entre o nível de atividade físico-funcional auto-referido e o desempenho físico de idosas em centro de reabilitação. Foram selecionadas 37 mulheres idosas (com em média 72,7±5,9 anos) pelas fichas de admissão em serviço de atividade física de um centro de referência em reabilitação. Para a avaliação do nível de atividade física auto-referido empregou-se o Perfil de Atividade Humana (PAH); na observação direta de desempenho físico aplicaram-se os testes de caminhada em 6 minutos (TC6') e levantar da cadeira em 30 segundos (TSL30"). Foi encontrada correlação positiva fraca (r=0,41) e estatisticamente significante (p=0,01) entre os valores do PAH e o TC6'; e uma tendência de associação entre a classificação do nível de atividade e a variável categórica TC6' (p=0,08). Também foi encontrada correlação positiva fraca (r=0,36) e estatisticamente significante (p=0,02) entre o PAH e o TSL30". Pode-se afirmar que o auto-relato de nível de atividade física das idosas estudadas correlaciona-se, porém fracamente, ao desempenho físico observado. Sugerem-se novas pesquisas com amostras representativas da população idosa em uma comunidade, não apenas de pacientes de centro de reabilitação, para averiguar possíveis tendências à subestimação ou superestimação do nível de atividade física em avaliações auto-referidas.

The aim of the study was to verify the degree of association between self-reported level of physical activity and observed physical performance of aged women. Thirty-seven women (mean aged 72.7±5.99 years old) were selected by looking up admission records in a reference centre for physical rehabilitation. The Human Activity Profile (HAP) was used to measure activity level; and, for direct observation of physical performance, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and the 30-second chair-stand test were applied. A statistically significant (p=0.01), weak positive correlation (r=0.41) was found between HAP scores and 6MWT values; and an association trend was noticed between the classification of activity level and the 6MWT variable (p=0.08). Also, a significant (p=0.02), weak positive correlation (r=0.36) was found between HAP scores and results of the 30-second chair stand test. It may be said there is a correlation, though weak, between self-reported and observed levels of physical performance among the elderly here studied. Further research should address aged community dwellers - not only rehabilitation patients - in order to assess a possible under or overestimation of the physical activity level in self-reported evaluations.