The Role Of Community Physical Therapy In The Functional Independence And Quality Of Life Of Elderly Women

Abstract

Introduction: The elderly population demands special and specific measures focused on the promotion of health and quality of life. The Family Health Support Centers seek to increase the operational scope of the Family Health Strategy through the inclusion of different professionals, including physiotherapists, who develop their activities with the elderly by focusing on educational measures and preventive and health promoting corporal practices.Objectives: Evaluate the importance of Physical Therapy in the Family Health Support Centers for the functional independence and quality of life of elderly women. Methodology:Descriptive research with a case control epidemiological base performed in the Family Health Support Centers of the city of Parnaíba/PI. 88 individuals participated in this study, all of them female, of which 46 participated in the Physical Therapy activities (G1) and 42 didn't (G2). Quality of life was measured according to the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) profile for independent elderly, and functionality was analyzed according to the Katz scale. IntroductionThe Family Health Strategy (Estratégia Saúde da Familia, ESF, Portuguese acronym) is a primary care model implemented in the 90s through the deployment of multidisciplinary teams at the Basic Health Units (BHU). It works mainly by promoting and maintaining health [1,2]. In order to increase the scope and coverage of basic care, the Department of Health Care created the Family Health Support Centers (Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família, NASF, Portuguese acronym) through Decree no. 154/GM of January 24, 2008. The involvement in the NASF represents an important approximation of physiotherapy and basic care from the perspective of one health policy [3]. Among the diverse Physical Therapy activities in the NASF, those geared toward the elderly public stand out [4].The elderly population has increased significantly all over the world. This has attracted the attention of the academic community to develop research and public policies focused on healthy aging. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an elderly person is defined as any individuals equal to or over the age of 60 in developing countries, or 65 in developed countries [5]. This population demands special and specific measures focused on promoting health and quality of life at this stage of life [6]. In this context, the practice of physical activity is an important way to improve the quality of life, and it's essential for the maintenance of functional capacity in the elderly [7].Studies have shown that the practice of exercise, especially when done in community, is beneficial to the elderly, even for those with a more advanced age [4,8]. The physical therapists who are part of the NASF team develop their activities with the elderly by emphasizing educational measures and preventive and health promoting corporal practices, carrying out work in groups, lectures, home visits and referrals [9]. Despite the broad scope of operation of physical therapy in the NASF, re...