title: Physical activity and stress coping in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the value of a physical activity program on stress coping of the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intervention study with a group of 18 elderly people referred by the Geriatric Service of the Hospital das Clinicas of the Universidade de Sao Paulo, who attended a supervised exercise program, evaluated by the human activity profile and the coping questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the coping and functional performance scales, increased stress coping capacity and improvement of daily activities were found after exposure to a physical activity program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The practice of supervised and regular physical activity, combining aerobic, resistance, stretching, and respiratory exercises, yields positive effects in the coping capacity and in the accomplishment of the daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Hospital das Clínicas of Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Fernando de
authors.initials: Fd
authors.lastname: Andréa
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Hospital das Clínicas of Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Fernanda Varkala
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Lanuez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Adriana Nunes
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jacob Filho