Assessment of the elderly in Physical Education

The book presents reflections from the perspective of Health Promotion, looking for evidence that can be used to design Physical Education programs for the elderly. The theoretical framework used appropriates a view of health in its broadest context, transcending the reductionist tendencies inherited from the biomedical tradition of considering health in a negative way, linked exclusively to disease prevention. Considering this problem, the book presents the results of a wide-ranging field study, the objectives of which were: a) to analyze and evaluate the environment (socio-cultural, historical and geopolitical) and personal characteristics (physical, functional and desires/preferences) of the participants in the Elderly Living Groups in the municipality of Marechal Cândido Rondon - PR; b) to verify the implications of these evaluations for the creation of a Physical Education model in the light of the Health Promotion idea. The research showed that a wide-ranging assessment of various aspects related to the environment is essential if the actions of pedagogical practice are to transcend the systematized practice of physical activity in a Physical Education program for the elderly.