A prática de exercícios físicos regulares e a prevenção de quedas em idosos: uma revisão narrativa

Abstract

Considering the changes following the aging process, an increasing number of studies are needed on the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic interventions aimed at health promotion and fall prevention, so that follow-up is better targeted, Providing the elderly with greater autonomy, functionality and better quality of life. The objective of this study was to review the existing publications in the literature on the efficacy of regular physical exercise in the prevention of falls in the elderly. The method used was a narrative review of the literature, considering the studies published in the PEDro, Scielo and Medline / PubMed databases. At the end of the research, 7 studies were in agreement with the inclusion criteria (published since the 90s, written in the English and Portuguese languages, that had as their endpoint "falls" and which addressed the effect of physical exercise in prevention of falls in individuals aged 60 years or older). We found a great diversity of types of interventions used, number of subjects, methods and tools used to measure the result obtained after the intervention. However, most studies reported statistically significant improvement in preventing falls from exercise - strength training, balance, flexibility, and muscle endurance. The studies, however, did not present a consensus regarding which exercise modality is most effective in preventing falls in the elderly, nor as to what intensity and duration of the activity should be used.