EVALUATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS, FUNCTIONALITY AND MUSCULAR FORCE IN ELDERLY WITH AND NO PAIN IN THE KNEES OF THE OF SANTA CRUZ CITY / RN
Key words: Aging, Elderly, Nutritional Status, Functionality, Muscular Strength.
Introduction: Brazil undergoes profound changes in its age structure, the proportion of individuals over 60 years has been increasing rapidly. In Santa Cruz / RN, approximately, 11.7% of the population is in this age group. However, although the elderly exhibit longer life expectancy, they are more likely to be exposed to chronic diseases, such as osteoarticular diseases. This accelerated population aging requires preparation for the social and economic consequences that arise from it and entails new social challenges and global public health in the population. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status, functionality and muscular strength of elderly women with and without knee pain. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with elderly women with or without pain in the knees, residents of the city of Santa Cruz / RN, attending the physical therapy clinic of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi (FACISA-UFRN) . Data were collected through the application of a standardized questionnaire containing identification information, health aspects, anthropometric data and body composition (Body Mass Index, bioimpedance, folds and body circumferences). In addition, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire, which evaluates the functionality (6-minute walking test - TC6M - and Timed Up and Go -TUG) and muscular strength Palmar gripping (FPP). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 100 elderly women, 49% with knee pain (symptomatic) and 51% asymptomatic, with a mean age of 67 (± 9.0) and 67 (± 8.0) years, p = 0.527, respectively. The mean BMI was 30.7 (± 4.37) kg / m² in the symptomatic elderly and, as in the control group, 29.3 (± 4.64) kg / m² p = 0.125, indicating excess weight. The nutritional variables that presented significant differences between the groups (p <0.05) were the waist circumference (PC) and the arm (CP) and the Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), being the highest values obtained by the group with pain in the Knees Regarding the functional variables, all showed significant differences between the groups (p <0.05), the worst results being obtained by the symptomatic group. The correlation between the variables related to the nutritional status of the symptomatic elderly and those related to the functionality was performed. The correlation between WOMAC and BMI, PC and WHR were not significant, weak and positive. When correlating the nutritional variables with the 6MWT, it is verified that between 6MWT and PC, Neck Perimeter and WHR were weak and negative. The correlation between 6MWT and BMI, lean mass and body fat% were not significant, weak and positive. The correlations between TUG and BMI, PC and WHR were not significant, weak and positive. The correlation between lean mass and right hand strength (r = 0.070, p = 0.627), and lean mass and left hand strength (r = 0.070; p = 0.627) were shown to be weak, positive, and non-significant. Conclusion: The elderly women with knee pain presented overweight and functional deficits when compared to the control group. It was found that the symptomatic elderly had a higher WOMAC score, indicating worse functionality and higher indicators of overweight (BMI, PC and WHR); the same was true in the TUG test, which indicates falls, since the longer the time to perform , The values of these nutritional variables were higher. It was also observed that the lower the waist, neck and waist-hip ratio, the greater the distance walked by the elderly in the walking test (6MWT). On the other hand, the elderly women with higher percentages of high lean mass had greater muscle strength.