STUDY OF THE LEVEL OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AMONG HEALTHY GERIATRICS Nikita P Watwani Physiotherapist, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Address    for    the    Correspondence:     Dr.        Nikita    P    Watwani.    PT.,    MGM    Institute    of    Health    Sciences,    Navi    Mumbai,    Maharashtra,    India.    E-Mail:   watwaninikita@gmail.com ABSTRACT Background:   Physical   capacity   is   identified   with   morbidity   and   mortality   of   elderly.   Appraisal   of   physical   fitness   helps   to   distinguish   early   physical   ageing. Understanding   the   participation   of   physical   fitness   components   to   functional   execution   encourages   the   improvement   of   satisfactory   exercise   interventions aiming   at   protection   of   function   and   independence   of   elderly.   The   age-related   disintegration   of   physiological   limits,   for   instance,   muscle   strength   and balance is connected with increased dependence. This study researched the physical fitness levels of older Indian adults and the ageing impact on fitness. Purpose:   To   assess   physical   fitness   in   geriatrics   using   senior   fitness   battery   tests,   assessing   the   strength,   endurance,   flexibility   and   agility/dynamic   balance in age group above 60 years. Materials   and   Methods:   Senior   Fitness   Test   (SFT)   was   used   which   consisted   of   the   30second   chair   stand   test,   arm   curl   test,   chair   sit   and   reach   test,   back scratch   test,   8   feet   up   and   go   test,   6-minute   walk   test   and   incremental   shuttle   walk   test.   The   study   was   carried   out   on   a   sample   of   146   participants   (74 males   and   72   females)   aged   from   60   years   and   above,   both   community   dwelling   as   well   as   institutionalized   elders   in   Mumbai   city.   On   the   basis   of   their   age, the   participants   were   divided   into   three   sub-samples:   Young   old   between   the   age   group   of   60-69   years,   Middle   old   between   age   group   70-79   years   and   Old old between 80 years and above. Further subsamples of men and women were isolated. Further the data analysis was done. Results:   As   per   the   normative   data,   best   result   was   achieved   by   men   in   age   group   60   –   69   as   compared   to   women.   For   age   group   60   –   69,   the   strength, flexibility, agility and endurance are more than age groups 70 – 79 and 80 & above. Conclusions:   The   study   of   level   of   physical   fitness   in   institutionalized   and   community   dwelling   among   healthy   geriatric   population   showed   that   the   best result   was   achieved   by   men   in   the   age   group   of   60-69   years   than   female.   This   suggests   that   as   the   age   increases,   the   strength,   flexibility,   agility   and endurance decreases. KEY WORDS:  Physical fitness, elderly, age groups, senior fitness test. References 1 . RadmilaKostic.  Indicators of physical fitness among the elderly based on the values of their BMI, Physical education and sports; 2012;10:1-11. 2 . Amika   S   Singh.   Cross-sectional   relationship   between   physical   fitness   components   and   functional   performance   in   older   persons   living   in   long-term   care facilities; BMC geriatrics; Feb 2006;6. 3 . LMY Chung.  Association of physical fitness and ageing among older Chinese people;  Asian J GerontolGeriatr; 2012;69-79. 4 . Chad,    K.    E.,    B.    A.    Reeder,    E.    L.    Harrison ;    Profile    of    physical    activity    levels    in    community-dwelling    older    adults;    Med.    Sci.    Sports    Exerc. ; 2005;37(10):1774-1784. 5 . Leonardo   A.   Simões,   M.   D.   Dias,   Keila   C.   Marinho,   Carla   L.   L.   R.   Pinto,   Raquel   R.   Britto.   Relationship   between   the   functional   capacity   assessed   by walking test and respiratory in lowerlimb muscle function in community dwelling elderly; Brazilian journal of physical therapy; 2010; Vol14. 6. Yu R, Yau F, Ho S, Woo J. Cardiorespiratory fitness and its association with body composition and physical activity in Hong Kong Chinese women aged from 55 to 94 years. Maturitas 2011;69:348-53.