Effects of a Hiking Study About the Functional Autonomy Levels in Old Women Analyzed by the Family Health Program

In the physical evaluation, the participants were asked that they bathe with clothes (swimsuit, trunks) to measure the body composition, stature and IMC. All of the results were recorded in elaborated cards by the researcher.

The participants were physically evaluated through systemic observation during 16 weeks. The first collection of data occurred in the first week of April and the second collection occurred in the first week of August, 2009 during the morning.

A weighing machine with the unit of Filizola registered to INMETRO (precision of 100 grams) was used to evaluate body composition. Stature was measured through the use of a Estadiometer registered to INMETRO (precision of 1 mm). In order to evaluate the functional autonomy, GDLAM (Group Development of Latin American Maturity) created by Dantas and Vale, was used. It consists of hiking ten meters (C10m); standing up from the sitting position (SSP); to stand up from the ventral decubitus position (SSPVD); to stand up from a chair and be able to walk around your home (SCWH); and to be able to wear and remove a t-shirt (DTS). Everybody was measured in seconds and consists of a score called the General Indice of the GDLAM (IG).

The results of reference for classification of the functional autonomy level were the same for IG and its components and GDLAM. The intervention took place three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) from 5 PM to 5:45 PM. Intensity varied between 50% and 75% of the frequency maximum from heart (FMH) obtained by the equation: FMH = 220 - age. The FMH was controlled by the standardization of the heart frequency (HF) from the carotid at six seconds and then multiplied by ten. This HF WAS measured by the participants themselves. They received training and orientations to learn the right method.

All the participants had their HF measured by monitors, at least one time per session. Therefore after the self-standardization, with the aim to confirm the identified results by the older women. The moment of standardization of the HF varied due to the voice of the responsible teacher or asked by the monitor close to the old woman.