Profile of physical activity in daily life in physically independent elderly men and women

Abstract

This study compared the profile of daily activities and variables of functional fitness between elderly men and women, as well as the relation of their time spent walking per day with the remaining study variables concerning each gender. Thirty healthy elderly (15 men; 66 ± 6 years), sedentary and physically independent, had their daily activities evaluated objectively by a multi-axial accelerometer as well as their metabolic and functional fitness variables by means of specific protocols. Both men and women presented similar time spent in walking per day, even though men had higher intensity during walking. Women spent longer time standing, and men, sitting. A better performance was achieved by men in most physical tests in regard to absolute values but not in relative values. In conclusion, despite their different patterns of daily activities, elderly men and women do not differ in time spent walking per day.