A comparative analysis of the indicators of the functional fitness of the elderly
With the aim of analyzing the dependence of indicators of functional fitness on the body weight of the elderly, a battery of the Senior Fitness Test was used (Rikli & Jones, 2001), which consists of the 8-Foot Up-and-Go, Back Scratch, Chair Sit-and- Reach, 2-Minute Step Test, 30-Second Chair Stand, and the Arm Curl. The sample of subjects consisted of 59 males and 60 females, aged from 65 to 70. On the basis of the Body Mass Index (BMI) the subjects were divided into two groups, depending on gender: individuals with normal body weight and individuals with increased body weight. In order to calculate the statistical significance of the differences between the groups, we used a single factor analysis, the ANOVA (the conclusions were all made at the 0.05 level of significance). On the basis of the discussion of the obtained results, it was concluded that the statistically significant difference between the indicators of functional fitness depending on body weight, in favor of individuals with normal body weight in the case of the subsamples consisting of men and women.