Do The Physical Activity Level And Functional Fitness Differ In Older Women From Urban And Rural Areas
The aim of this study was to determine the difference in the level of functional fitness and physical activity between urban and rural older women. 219 elderly women, age 60-80, participated in this study. 146 participants were from an urban while 73 were from a rural area. The physical activity level was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The senior fitness test was used to asses the functional fitness of the participants. The test consists of six measures of physical fitness: 1) Back scratch, 2) Chair sit and reach, 3) 8 foot up and go, 4) 30 sec stand from the chair, 5) Arm curl, 6) 2-minutes step test. The resutls showed that the flexibility (upper and lower limbs) and agility are statistically different in the women from urban areas from the women from rural area. The other parameters of functional fitness (strength and endurance) did not show statistical difference. Also, the women from urban area were physicaly more active in the transport and walking domains than the women from rural areas. The other domains did not show any difference between the urban and rural women. It colud be concluded that the women from different areas are slightly different.