Resumo

HERNANDEZ BORGES, Yamilka; BERNARDO CRESPO, Ivonne; CATALA NAVARRO, Isabel  e  DOMINGUEZ RAMOS, María del Carmen. Ejercicio físico en pacientes geriátricos. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.1, pp.312-325. ISSN 0864-0319.

Movement allows animals to meet their own needs and it also mades possible that men adapt by themselves to life. Therefore, a descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted at "Armando García" Polyclinic from January to June, 2000, aimed at showing the positive influence of physical exercises on the patient's health The universe and the sample were composed of 25 grandparents from a grandparents' circle corresponding to the family physician's office # 16. Information was obtained from the outpatient medical histories and the questionnaries. The following variables were studied: age, sex, diseases and patients' health before and after doing some physical exercises. Among the main conclusions we found that according to the age and sex of the patients, the highest percentage are females aged 60-69. Patients with different diseases are compensated thanks to the systematic practice of physical exercise. Arterial hypertension is the prevailing disease. 100 % had normal levels of glycemia after physical exercise. All the hypertensive patients were able to maintain the arterial pressure readings within the normal parameters. Those patients suffering from arthrosis improved, too.. The independent nursing care actions stood out, making possible that the highest number of patients experienced positive changes in their evolution. .

Palavras-chave : EXERCISE; AGED; HOMES FOR THE AGED; PRIMARY HEALTH CARE; NURSING CARE; GERIATRICS; HYPERTENSION [therapy]; LIFE EXPECTANCY.