An important aspect of a senior's life is to be able to function independently in his or her own and family surroundings as long as possible, actively participate in social life without economic barriers. Numerous studies show that the quality of life and the biological condition of the elderly alongside nutrition are clearly dominant and have a positive effect on their functional physical fitness. In order to promote physical activity and physiological prevention among the elderly, a physiotherapeutic program was organized under the "Summer Sanatorium of Prevention of the spine pain syndrome", which was attended regularly by a group of senior citizens from the Karkonosze University of the Third Age in Jelenia Góra. The aim of the study was to compare the level of functional physical activity before and after treatment among the participants. The study was conducted among 20 women aged 60-75 years, before and after 6 weeks of treatment, which included: gymnastics for prevention of back pain syndromes, relaxation training, full spine massage, TENS electrotherapy and ultrasound in the lumbar and cervical spine. Research included; assessment of functional physical fitness by the Functional Senior Fitness Tests: „stretching behind" and "slope forward", ranges of motion within the selected joints of the spine, upper and lower limbs. The selected form of physiotherapeutic treatment improves the results obtained after test with the Functional Senior Fitness Test and influences the range of motion in the selected joints, which demonstrates that physical fitness is improved. Physical activity in the form of general-purpose gymnastics favors higher levels of functional fitness of elderly women, physical therapy and massage improves mood and makes older people more willing to participate in physio preventing programs. The conducted research proves that the developed program was optimal and showed a positive effect on the daily functional fitness of the examined persons.
The aim of this study was the diagnosis of selected somatic parameters and functional parameters of cardiovascular and respiratory systems of rural women in Poland. The study involved a group of 95 rural women aged 35-60 years, staying in 3-week rehabilitation camps. The two groups of women were selected: younger (x=43 years), which did not exceed 50 years of age (n=48) and older (x=53 years) aged 50 years and older (n=47). The present study examines the measurement of the body height and weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and functional parameters of cardiovascular and respiratory systems. For the evaluation of cardiovascular parameters, a 6 minute walk test was selected. Before the commencement of the test and in the first minute after it, the pulse and the blood pressure were measured. To assess the functional parameters of the respiratory system, the pattern of flow - volume curve was used. The test was performed with a Jaeger Flowscreen spirometer. The following parameters were determined: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and Tiffeneau index (FEV1 in% VC). Examined rural women were likely to be similar to their urban counterparts. BMI of women was significantly higher than peers. Older rural women are particularly at risk of obesity. Heart rate and blood pressure, when at resting and after exercise, were normal and alike in both in young and older women. As expected, younger women had significantly higher levels of respiratory parameters. PEF values in younger women were slightly below the normal limit, and in their older peers, this value was significantly below the normal limit.
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