Evaluation of the relationship between the SF-36 and EUROFIT test batteries for the determination of physicall fitness in geriatric individuals

Aim: Physical fitness of 22 individuals in Izmir Urla Darüşşafaka Residence, over 65 (mean age 77.91 ± 8.82 years old) was evaluated by using `EUROFIT Adult Test Battery? and the physical fitness part of SF-36 quality of life scale. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between two assessments.Materials and methods: As part of the EUROFIT test battery, body composition of subjects (body mass index, body fat ratio, skinfold measurement), cardiopulmonary fitness (distance walked in 6 minutes, predicted VO2max), musculoskeletal fitness (hand grip strength and trunk flexibility) and motor fitness (speed) were evaluated. Also the physical fitness part of the SF-36 scale was given to the subjects to fill in.Results: According to the body composition measurements, no significant relationship were observed between body mass index, fat mass, lean body mass, fat percentages and SF?36 values (p>0.05). No significant relationship between walked distance in cardiopulmonary fitness and SF-36 results were observed (p>0.05). There was a significant and negative correlation between the original Borg Scale data and SF-36 results (p<0.05). Another significant, but positive correlation was found between predicted VO2max and SF-36 scores (p<0.05). Relationship between the duration of plate tapping test, used in motor fitness evaluation, and SF-36 results were significant and negative (p<0.05). Handgrip strength, measured by hand dynamometer with flexion and extension positions, and SF-36 results were showed a significant and positive correlation (p<0.05). Between flexibility results of subjects and SF-36 results were not correlated (p>0.05).Conclusion: In this research, the correlation between the EUROFIT Test Baterry and the physical fitness part of the SF-36 scale, which was supposed to correspond to the EUROFIT Test Battery, evaluated in the old-old geriatric group, in which it is hard to evaluate physical fitness with the physical tests. Since there is only correlation between some of theparameters of the two evaluation methods, the correlated parameters should use in geriatric exercise programs. New researches in different geriatric distributions with more subjects may design to test the correlation between EUROFIT and SF?36 scale.Key words: Geriatric, EUROFIT, quality of life