Objective: To evaluate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS), anthropometric parameters, perception of fatigue, and the distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (6MWD) in elderly people living in a long-stay institution (ILPI). Methods: Elderly people (n = 17; 77 ± 7 years) of both sexes, living in an LTCF in Espírito Santo, Brazil, participated in the study. Volunteers were evaluated using the 6-min walk test (6MWT), HGS, and Chalder's Fatigue Scale (EFC). Results: The means of the 6MWD (276 ± 81.6 m) and HGS (19.4 ± 10.5 Kg/f) of the elderly were below the predicted values. The 6MWD showed a moderate positive correlation with HGS (right r = 0.6; p = 0.008; left r = 0.5; p = 0.03) and with apex expansion (r = 0.5; p = 0.03), as well as a negative correlation with the body mass index (BMI) (r = -0.6; p = 0.01). Conclusion: In the environment of an ILPI, where there is a high prevalence of functional limitations and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the elderly, comprehensive health care is a complex challenge. Thus, knowledge of these associations can highlight the importance of ensuring strategies to mitigate muscle weakness and immobility.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.