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Medicina dello Sport 2017 March;70(1):126-36

DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.17.03098-8

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Proposal for a physical fitness evaluation test battery of an Italian elderly population

Giovanni MELCHIORRI ^{1, 2}, Giuseppe ANNINO ¹, Michele PANZARINO ^{1, 3, 4}, Valerio VIERO ¹, Francesca CAMPOLI ^{3, 4}, Mauro LOMBARDO ⁴, Elvira PADUA ^{3, 4} ✉

¹ Department of Systems Medicine, “Tor Vergata” University of Rome, Rome, Italy; ² Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Rome, Italy; ³ National Academy of Sports Culture, Rome, Italy; ⁴ Department of Science and Human Promotion of the Quality of Life, S. Raffaele University, Rome, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe a physical efficiency assessment test battery in an Italian healthy elderly population and outline the physiological evolution of motor skills in different age groups (range 50-90 years).
METHODS: The study participants were 1583 elderly subjects (70.68±6.13 years), recruited through Social Centers for Elderly in urban areas of Lazio.
RESULTS: Significant differences in the decline of lower limb and abdominal muscles strength, in balance and flexibility with aging of subjects and a marked deterioration in the range 70-79 years.
CONCLUSIONS: The test battery has proven to be a valuable tool to evaluate multiple aspects of physical fitness in the elderly population, due to its simplicity and applicability. The combined use of these tests may be recommended for a better definition of the physical age in subjects between 50 and 90 years.

KEY WORDS: Exercise - Elderly - Physical fitness