CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE FORÇA DE PREENSÃO PALMAR, SINTOMAS OSTEOMUSCULARES, QUALIDADE DE VIDA E PERCEPÇÃO DE SAÚDE EM IDOSAS ATIVAS

Abstract

Faced with the increase in life expectancy, it is necessary to understand how the grip strength, musculoskeletal symptoms, and perceived quality of life of physically active elderly women behave. The aim of the study was to evaluate and correlate handgrip strength, musculoskeletal symptoms and quality of life in physically active elderly women at UNATI PUC Goiás. The sample comprised 59 elderly women (68±6.74 years), evaluated by means of epidemiological questionnaires, Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptoms Questionnaire, WHOQOL-Bref for quality of life, and the Saehan® hydraulic dynamometer to assess the grip strength. Statistics were performed using SPSS software, version 20.0. Normality was assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and parametric and non-parametric variables by Pearson's and Spearman's correlation indexes, respectively. The elderly women presented a good perception of general quality of life (65.74 the average in the WHOQOL-Bref) whose correlation was positively associated with all domains assessed. Positive correlations were found between Body Mass Index (BMI) and knee pain (0.318), grip strength and height (0.453) and between musculoskeletal symptoms and the variables muscle and joint pain. It was concluded that BMI, musculoskeletal symptoms, and muscle strength decline negatively correlate with quality of life, but social interaction and physical activity can minimize physical-functional alterations.