Abstract

RODRIGUEZ CABEZA, Sonia; LAVIN MIRANDA, Yanela  and  CABALLOL MEDINA, Digna. Influencia del ejercicio físico en la salud de los ancianos de un centro penitenciario. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.1, pp. 1-1. ISSN 1561-2961.

The aging process gives rise to changes and causes that the individual, who arrives at this stage with well-defined biopsychosocial characteristics, loses his interest for what surrounds him, lacks the necessary impulse for feeling motivated for the new and restricts himself to his inner life. An observational descriptive study was made on a universe of 600 old men in Guanajay penitentiary from which a sample of 72 patients was taken and divided into 2 groups of 36 old men each. One of the groups practiced physical exercises. A comparative study was performed on both groups for a period of 10 months from May 2002 to March 2003. It was found that in the group practicing exercises, 20 recovered their normal blood pressure rates, 25 managed to reduce acute respiratory diseases and 30 improved their body mass. It was concluded that physical exercise has a favorable effect on the elderly´s health and the reduction of drug consumption.

Keywords : AGING [psychology]; PRISIONERS; EXERCISE; EPIDEMIOLOGY, DESCRIPTIVE; OBSERVATION.