Structural and functional markers of health depending on lifestyle in elderly women from Poland

Abstract

Objective

To comparatively analyze the rate and magnitude of age-related changes between two groups of elderly women with different lifestyles living in Poland: women attending a University of the Third Age (active lifestyle) and less-active peers not involved in any seniors association.

Methods

The study was conducted in 2010–2012. The study design was approved by the Senate Ethics Committee for Scientific Research of the University School of Physical Education. In total, 417 women were recruited. Basic somatic characteristics, body composition, bone mineral density, physical fitness, respiratory function, postural stability, and body posture were measured. Regression analysis and Student’s t-tests for independent samples were calculated.

Results and conclusion

The best results among the tests assessing functional biological markers of health were found in the group of elderly women attending a University of the Third Age. The rate of change was larger in the group of seniors leading a less-active lifestyle, indicating the important role of a preventive gerontological approach and the participation of seniors in programs that accentuate the need for physical activity.

Keywords:

• age-related changes
• bone mineral density
• markers of health
• lifestyle
• elderly women

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland (Project No N404 075337).

Author information

The authors are experts in the fields of physiotherapy, antropokinetics, and gerokinesiology. They have authored numerous publications on issues of aging, falls risk factors, and determinants of physical activity of older people.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.