INTRODUCTION: Aging leads to loss of functional abilities and cognitive functioning, increasing the risk of sedentary lifestyle. Physical exercise fights sedentary lifestyle and contributes to the maintenance of physical fitness and the level of care in the elderly. OBJETIVE: To analyze the functional physical fitness and attention, between two groups of elderly, practitioners of physical exercise and sedentary. Methods: A sample of 25 elderly women was divided into two groups: group A (12 physically active) and group S (13 sedentary). For data collection in the two groups were used: Baecke questionnaire to select the elderly, battery Senior Fitness Test (SFT) to assess functional physical fitness and Trail Making Test (TMT A and B) to assess attention. It was used descriptive and inferential statistical techniques for data analysis. RESULTS: In the Baecke questionnaire, group A showed better response than group S. Both groups had equal values in the parameters of physical fitness, when compared with values benchmarks, except in upper limb flexibility tests and aerobics resistance, which showed lower performance. In lower limb flexibility tests; physical mobility - speed, agility, balance and aerobics resistance, there was statistically significant difference. In TMT were found values above those considered as reference in both groups and, for part B, just at the group A, which shows low performance. CONCLUSION: The elderly women in this study had lower level of flexibility in the parameters of the upper limbs and aerobic endurance. The physically active women had better flexibility in the lower limbs, better physical mobility (speed, agility and balance) and more aerobic endurance than sedentary ones. We found deficits in attention and visual-motor speed. It is emphasized the importance of practicing exercises that stimulate intellectual abilities, beyond the physical capabilities of elderly.
Elderly; Aptitude; Motor Activity; Attention
