FLEXIBILITY OF CARDIOPATHS PRACTITIONERS AND NON PRACTITIONERS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the level of flexibility of cardiopaths practitioners and non practitioners of Physical Activity (PA). Materials and Methods: It was made of 63 cardiopaths of both genders within the average of 64±9,63 years of age practitioners of PA from the Cardiology Nucleus (CN) of the Health Science Centre CEFID/UDESC, and non PA practitioners of the University Hospital (UH) of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. A questionnaire and a flexibility test were used (RIKLI, JONES, 1999). Results: The PA practitioner cardiopaths obtained normal index in the hip flexibility test (52%), whereas the non PA practitioners showed a bad index (56%). In the shoulder flexibility test, 39% of the PA practitioner cardiopaths reached normal index, the non PA practitioners presented bad index (81%), obtaining significant difference in this test (p less than 0,05) both genders. Conclusion: It was observed that the PA practitioner Cardiopaths presenting coronary heart disease had normal index in both the hip and shoulder flexibility tests and significant result in the comparison between gender and level of shoulder flexibility of PA practitioners and non practitioners. DESCRIPTORS Elderly. Coronary Disease. Pliability. Motor Activity.