The level of actual functional fitness of men from different living environments in Poland and associations with health - a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background The study aimed to assess the differences in functional fitness between older men living in social welfare homes (SWH) and men living in society. Methods The study involved 474 men aged 60–84, including 134 men living in social welfare homes and 340 men living in community. The Senior Fitness Test was used to assess functional fitness. Body weight and height were measured. Moreover, data on age, education, taking up physical activity and place of residence were collected. Results A significantly lower level of functional fitness of SWH residents was demonstrated compared to men living in the society (p < 0.001). A significant percentage of seniors living in SWH did not reach the normal range for the Polish population. Also, the level of education, physical activity and health self-assessment differentiated the institutionalized men from those living in the community. Conclusions The place of residence is a factor that differentiates seniors’ functional fitness levels. The reduced fitness of social welfare home residents may also result from the low level of their daily physical activity, education and health. Introducing physical activity programs for elderly residents in social welfare homes seems reasonable. Trial registration ISRCTN platform as 18,225,729; December 2020.