A percepção de pessoas idosas sobre o impacto da pandemia de covid-19 na saúde e na prática de exercícios físicos

Abstract

In the year 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic occurred, and social isolation was implemented as a way to prevent the contagion of covid-19. For many people, isolation has contributed to a decrease in the practice of exercises, especially people from risk groups, such as the elderly. The objective of this study was to verify the perception of elderly people about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and on the practice of physical exercises. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 11 women, aged 60 years or older, enrolled in the extension program Open University for Seniors at the Federal University of Alagoas – UnATI/UFAL. The instrument used for data collection was the “ConVid: Behavior Research” questionnaire, prepared by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) and adapted for this study. Data collection took place between the 20th and 30th of November 2022, through a telephone interview. In the results, the data indicate that there were not many changes in relation to the health of the elderly. But as for the practice of physical exercises, they were quite impaired, as a large part of the sample stated that they did not perform them. As mentioned in the study, despite having flu symptoms, there was a small percentage of elderly people who contracted covid-19, recovered and there was no need for hospitalization, nor did any of them die. Based on data collection, it is concluded that elderly people consider that their health remained the same before and during the pandemic, deriving from this that an active lifestyle is essential for health.