Award Date

1-1-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology

First Committee Member

Lawrence A. Golding

Number of Pages

163

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the physical characteristics and determine the functional fitness of 28 female (FA) and 37 male (MA) Nevada Senior Olympic athletes from 50 to 86 years of age. Comparison groups of apparently healthy seniors (female n = 40 (FNA), male = 30 (MNA)) not competing in the Senior Olympics were also tested. A questionnaire was conducted to investigate training and lifestyle habits of the groups. Senior athlete skinfolds of the abdomen, ilium, tricep, and thigh were measured with Lange calipers. Senior athletes trained in a variety of sports, from distance running to passive sports, with varying degrees of frequency. The healthy non-athletes exercised with similar frequency. Athletes and non-athletes, though apparently healthy, had chronic health conditions related to aging such as hypertension and arthritis. Independent t-tests found that muscular strength was not significantly different between the MA and MNA, or between FA and FNA. The senior athletes tested were a highly diverse group in terms of training status, physical characteristics, and functional fitness. Therefore, it is recommended that senior athletes should be studied by subgroupings according to age and training status (frequency, intensity, time and mode). (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Keywords

Athletes; Characteristics; Fitness; Functional; Olympic; Physical; Senior

Controlled Subject

Physical education and training; Kinesiology; Health education; Gerontology

File Format

pdf

File Size

6031.36 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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