Nível de atividade física e aptidão física relacionada à saúde de pessoas com deficiência visual

Abstract

Research have showing that levels of physical activity and physical fitness of people with visual impairment are not satisfactory , thus the aim of this study was verify the relationship between physical activity level and physical fitness related to health variables in people with visual impairment. Participants were 12 people with visual impairment, 4 female, mean of age 52.5 ± 7.6 years, 8 males, mean of age 41.1 ± 12 years. The level of physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire , short version The body composition by Body Mass Index, waist circumference, percent body fat; flexibility through the Sit and Reach Test in the Bank Wells, muscle resistance and strength through the Abdominal Test in 1 minute and Flexion / Extension of Arms and cardiorespiratory fitness through Adapted Protocol of Bruce. Statistical analysis employed the Shapiro - Wilk Test, the Test of Pearson Correlation, the Test t for independent samples, the One Way ANOVA and post - hoc Tukey test. We adopted a significance level of p < 0.05 . Results: there was a positive relationship among the level of physical activity, waist circumference, Body Mass Index and body weight and a negative relationship among age, muscle resistance and strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness and stature. It is concluded that level of physical activity of people with visual impairment is associated with body weight, Body Mass Index and waist circumference may assume that disability was not decisive in influencing the level of physical activity and physical fitness of these people.