Physical Fitness Comparison and Quality of Life between Spanish and Serbian Elderly Women through a Physical Fitness Program

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness and quality of life related to the health of a sample population of older adult women from Spain and Serbia (60-69 years). A total of 127 female participants of physical fitness programs from Spain (64.33 ± 3.26) and Serbia (63.00 ± 2.88) have participated. Physical fitness (PF), quality of life (QoL) and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated by Senior Fitness Test, SF-36 Health Survey and socio-demographic questionnaire, respectively. The anthropometric characteristic was measured by corporal measurement. The physical fitness program comprised exercise of strength, agility and aerobic capacity, centering on the Pilates'program and Aerobic. Mean body mass index was 33.6 ± 7.4 kg x m(-2) in the Spanish participants and 25.1 ± 2.6 kg x m(-2) from the Serbian participants (p < 0.001). Similarly, mean waist circumference and body weight of Spanish women was higher than Serbian (p < 0.001; p < 0.05, respectively). Spanish women perceived lower quality of life dimensions than Serbian women, such as physical functioning, social functioning and general health (p < 0.001), general health (p < 0.01) and vitality (p < 0.05). Serbian participants experienced higher physical fitness, such as upper body flexibility (p < 0.05), lower body flexibility, agility and aerobic endurance (p < 0.001). In conclusion, Serbian women were found to have better levels of physical fitness and quality of life than Spanish women. Furthermore, endurance fitness has 73% of explained variance with age, body mass index and fat mass.