Dizziness, Physical Exercise, Falls, and Depression in Adults and the Elderly.
Introduction Dizziness is a symptom that can lead to falls, which, in turn, undermine onés independence and autonomy, leading to several comorbidities. The practice of physical exercise, however, can help prevent falls. Objective The objective of this study is to confirm the association between physical exercise, dizziness, probability of falling, and depressive symptoms in a group of middle-aged adults and seniors. Methods The authors evaluated subjects based on history, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and functional reach test. Results The sample consisted of 90 individuals with a mean age of 69.3 ± 6.8 years. The authors found that 37.8% had been practicing exercise, 33.7% had depressive symptoms, and their probability of falling was above average in the functional reach test. Conclusion The results of this study indicated an association between dizziness, exercise practice and depressive symptoms, indicating that physical activity is a beneficial factor for the aging population.
Department of Health and Human Communication, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Adriane Ribeiro
AR
Teixeira
Phonoaudiology Specialization Course: Emphasis on Aging, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Mariane Heckmann
MH
Wender
Department of Physical Education, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Andréa Kruger
AK
Gonçalves
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Cíntia de La Rocha
Cde L
Freitas
Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Ana Maria Pujol Vieira Dos
AM
Santos
Department of Phonoaudiology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Cristina Loureiro Chaves
CL
Soldera
depression; dizziness; exercise; falls