Analysis of balance in obese and non-obese elderly women practicing a regular physical activity program

Abstract

The objective was to analyze balance in obese and non-obese elderly women practicing a regular physical activity program. This is a descriptive study, with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 32 elderly women, aged between 60 and 75 years, allocated into two groups, according to nutritional status. For the balance analysis, a force platform was used, in which the behavior of the center of pressure (COP) was obtained, in the bipedal position, in the conditions eyes open and eyes closed, and monopedal, with the right leg and left leg. The significance value adopted was 5%. The groups were homogeneous in terms of age and height. There was no significant difference in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) displacements of the COP in both the eyes open and eyes closed conditions between obese and non-obese elderly women. As for COP speed, it was found that non-obese elderly women showed greater speed both in the condition with eyes open (p<0.001) and eyes closed (p<0.05) when compared to obese elderly women. There was no significant difference in the monopedal position in any of the variables between obese and non-obese elderly women. It is concluded that obesity positively affected the balance of obese elderly people in the bipedal condition and did not compromise balance in the singlepedal position.