engleski

Morphological, motor and functional differences between the urban and rural women in Croatia

Ageing induces changes in morphological characteristics, functional and motor abilities. Previous investigations, as well as current researches, implicate the positive effect of physical activity on slowing the ageing process. The amount of physical activity in daily living is determined by the way of life and for that reason, it could be presumed that urban and rural population differs in functional and motor abilities. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in some morphological characteristics and functional and motor abilities between urban and rural population. The sample consisted of 500 adult female subjects, 239 were employed and living in northern Croatia and the capital Zagreb and 261 were employed and living in the rural areas of the northern and eastern Croatia. The subjects were divided into two groups, urban and rural group. By means of Baecke`s questionnaire the habitual physical activity was estimated. EUROFIT battery of tests was used in order to determine percentage of fat tissue, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, flexibility, explosive strength, repetitive strength, hand grip, tapping, balance and maximal oxygen uptake. Discriminative analysis showed significant differences between the urban and rural subjects in all age groups (p<0.001). Urban population had better functional and motor abilities as well as lower values of morphological characteristics representing cardiovascular risk factors. Those differences were larger with the increase of age. The rural subjects participated less in sports and recreational activities, which could explain some of the differences found. Despite the fact that rural subjects suffered great physical load at workplace and during the leisure time (3.34&#61617; 0.93 vs. 2.56&#61617; 0.75 and 3.01&#61617; 0.60 vs. 2.90&#61617; 0.48), that kind of physical activity was not adequate to improve functional and motor abilities. The results of this study implicate the necessity of introducing sports-recreational programs in the rural areas and the need to motivate rural population to participate in those programs. 1. Baecke, et al. (1982). Am J Clin Nutri 36(5): 936-942. 2. Cauley, J.A., et al. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 40(2):115-120. 3. Oja, P., & Taxworth, B. (1995). Eurofit for Adults

physical fitness ; women ; urban ; rural

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