Análise do letramento corporal em idosos

Abstract

The significant increase in life expectancy in recent decades has brought to light one of the greatest contemporary challenges: ensuring quality of life for a rapidly aging population. Aging is a global phenomenon, especially relevant in countries like Brazil, where the demographic transition has occurred rapidly, a situation that is also repeated in the state of Tocantins. This scenario demands in-depth studies on the needs and possibilities of promoting health, autonomy, and well-being actions for the elderly. Quality of life is not limited to the absence of diseases, but involves physical, emotional, social, and cognitive aspects. In this context, the concept of body literacy gains relevance as an innovative and multidimensional approach that can significantly benefit the elderly. Such an analysis is important because it brings elements that enable actions/activities that can prevent falls, increase mobility, and promote a more conscious relationship with one's own body. This study aimed to verify body literacy in elderly people attending the Maturity University and the CRAs living in the city of Dianópolis in 2024. This is an exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative study carried out with 80 elderly people of both sexes between the ages of 50 and 86, with socioeconomic analysis together with questions from the HAPA model and physical tests (SPPB). The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results obtained were: 20.1% of the respondents obtained moderate performance, 71.2% presented good performance and 8.7% with excellent performance. The predominance of the good performance level suggests that the majority of those evaluated have adequate mobility and physical capacity, although not excellent. In relation to the group with moderate performance, which corresponds to approximately 1/5 of the participants, it is important to highlight the need for special attention. On the Likert Scale, the overall average of the items is around 3.5, which indicates a moderate perception of competence in relation to motor skills and physical fitness. The association found between the individual components of the SPPLI and the overall score of the instrument suggests that elderly individuals who demonstrate a higher level of body literacy not only have a more positive perception of their physical capacity, but also a broader understanding of the benefits of physical activity for mental and social health. The overall score of the elderly individuals was 41.86 ± 10.34. Considering the maximum final score of the SLPPI being 55, we can state as a conclusion of the hypothesis proposed in the study that this sample carried out in the city of Dianópolis - TO, has an adequate value of body literacy