VALORES NORMATIVOS DE APTIDÃO FUNCIONAL EM MULHERES DE 70 A 79 ANOS NORMATIVE VALUES OF FUNCTIONAL FITNESS IN 70-TO-79 YEAR-OLD

The aim of this study was to develop reference values for normality for specifi c components (fl exibility; coordination; agility and balance; strength; and aerobic capacity) and overall functional fi tness (OFF), in 70 to 79-year-old women. The sample comprised 175 older women resident in either Florianopolis, SC or Rio Claro, SP, both in Brazil. Subjects had all been participating in structured and supervised physical activities on a regular basis for the previous six months. Specifi c components were assessed by means of the AAHPERD battery of tests. This battery comprises fi ve motor tests designed to measure the six elements of functional fi tness described previously. Percentilescores were calculated from raw scores for each of the tests and the sum of percentiles was used as the OFF index. The 20th, 40th, 60th and 80th percentiles were taken as limits for classifying both the components and the OFF as very weak; weak; fair; good or very good, respectively. Tests results for each of the components of functional fivaried within the calculated range of percentiles adopted for classifi cation. Scores above 14.5 or below 10.1 seconds for coordination; less than 17 or more than 25 repetitions for strength; less than 49 or more than 71 centimeters for flabove 28.9 or below 22.7 seconds for agility and dynamic balance; and above 601 or below 504 seconds for aerobic capacity were classifi ed as very weak or very good, respectively. Similarly, the sum of percentiles of all tests lower than 100 or higher than 399 were classifi ed as very weak or very good overall functional fi tness, respectively. The reference values developed by this study should help professionals to better evaluate, prescribe and supervise physical activities for the elderly.