[The influence of physical exercise on depressive symptoms and functional fitness in elderly residents of south Brazil].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of physical exercise on depressive symptoms and functional fitness in a sample of elderly people enrolled in a physical exercise program run by public sector Health Centers in Florianópolis, Brazil.


METHODS
The sample comprised a total of 118 elderly people (101 women and 17 men), who had been receiving treatment for up to 1 year and 4 months and were assessed at predefined intervals, up to a maximum of five times. Evaluations were carried out using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15); International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the physical test battery proposed by AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance).


RESULTS
A tendency for depression scores to reduce was observed. However, a statistically significant difference (p=0.008) was only detected among those elderly people who attended 75% or more of the treatment sessions. Analysis demonstrated that the tendency for overall mean functional fitness to increase was statistically significant (p<0.001). Inverse relationships were detected between functional fitness and depression scores at five assessment (r=-0.235, p=0.059; r=-0.206, p=0.099; r=-0.158, p=0.110; r=-0.068, p=0.565), although only one assessment had statistical significance (r=-0.226, p=0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated a positive effect from physical exercise in reducing depressive symptoms and improving functional fitness, suggesting that there is an inverse relationship between these variables.
Justino Borges
Lucélia
L
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Brasil. luceliajb@yahoo.com.br
Bertoldo Benedetti
Tânia R
TR
Zarpellon Mazo
Giovana
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness