INTRODUCTION: Physical inactivity has been implicated as a risk factor for development of chronic diseases in the elderly. Thus, physical activity has been advocated as a way of preventing these diseases; however, few studies have correlated sedentarism and practice of physical functional independence (FI) and quality of life (QOL) in this population. OBJECTIVE: To compare the FI and QOL between active and sedentary elderly. METHODS: An analytical, comparative study of cross-temporal character was conducted with a sample of 30 patients of both sexes, divided into two groups. Group 1 was composed of 15 active elderly and group 2 of 15 sedentary elderly individuals. For evaluation of the FI, the measurement of functional independence was used, while for the QOL, the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire, already adapted and validated in Brazil, was used. Since the data were nonparametric, the Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between groups and the analysis applied the SPSS software version 14.0 with significance level of α = 0.05. RESULTS: mean age of group 1 was 68.06 ± 7.82 while in group 2 it was 71.20 ± 10.26, presenting no significant difference p = 0.12. When FI and QOL were compared, group 1 presented better results than group 2, p = 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of physical activity practice for maintenance of good FI and QOL in the elderly.
physical activity; aging; quality of life
