Physical profile of walkers in Salvador, Bahia

Abstract

Introduction: Studies in five countries indicate that walking represents the main daily physical activity for most people. Knowing the characteristics of the population that attends this scenario makes possible interventions that aim to improve the effectiveness of the practice of this exercise. The present study aimed to describe the physical profile of walkers at Salvador beach, BA, Brazil. Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study in which 30 volunteers (19 men) were evaluated for walking on the edge of the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A questionnaire was applied that investigated whether practitioners received guidance and assessment from specialized professionals, data on the volume of the walk, whether they used appropriate footwear and what the main objective they would like to achieve. Results: Most of the individuals reported not receiving medical advice 87% (n = 26), nor of Physical Education professionals 60% (n = 18). The majority of individuals 40% (n = 12) walked 5 days a week between 20 and 30 min 53% (n = 16) for over 1 year 57% (n = 17). The majority, 63% (n = 19), reported using walking shoes. The main objectives were to improve quality of life 23% (n = 7), improve physical fitness 20% (n = 6) and decrease weight 20% (n = 6). Conclusion: In this sample, the main objective of the walk is the improvement of the quality of life, physical conditioning and body weight reduction, which seems contradictory since most of them do not seek the guidance of a specialized professional and do not carry out an prior evaluation or periodic medical examination.