Objective:

To compare functional capacity through functional assessment measures based on the MEBE implementation with physical activity or not in older adults in the Centros Vida de Tunja - Colombia.

Materials and methods:

Quantitative, descriptive study, with cross sectional design. Population of 1,492 older adults who belong to the program of sénior citizens of the City of Tunja, (Boyacá), Colombia, called Centros Vida, of which 245 adults are classified as active and 1,247 as non-active. A sample was obtained for independent groups of 44 active adults group A and 88 non-active group B. The level of physical activity in the two groups was measured through the PASE (The Physical Activity and Scale Elderly) and the functional capacity with the tests of Tinetti, static balance, functional range, incorporating a chair and speed of the march. A univariate and bivariate analysis was performed applying the Pearson Chi square test, Mann Whitney U test and calculation of the respective ORs with their confidence intervals.

Results:

There is no statistically significant relationship between walking speed and physical activity or not. The tests of Tandem, Semitandem, incorporate of a chair and the method used presented association with the realization or not of physical activity.

Conclusions:

The tests that measure the risk of fall and speed of gait are independent to the practice of physical activity while the other variables show dependence for the practice or not of physical activity.

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