Objective: to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia, functional capacity and nutritional status among elderly women living in the community. Method: an observational, cross-sectional study was performed with 100 elderly women aged over 60 years. A questionnaire containing identification and socioeconomic data and information relating to the practice of physical activity was applied, while anthropometric and body composition data were measured through bioimpedance and functionality data was assessed using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Independent t-tests were performed for the quantitative variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of the variables. Multiple linear regression analyzes were performed to estimate the mean 6MWTfor each of the variables studied. Results: The average age of the elderly women was 67 (± 8.0) years, 41% practiced physical activity, 38% had at least an elementary school education, 48% received up to two minimum wages and 91% were obese according to waist circumference (WC). The prevalence rates for the presence of sarcopenia were: 5% for sarcopenic obesity (SO), 63% for obesity, 14% for sarcopenia and 18% had adequate weight. Elderly women who practiced physical activity, had at least an elementary education and who were non-obese according to WC, performed better in the 6MWT. There were no significant differences in the 6MWTbased on income or Body Mass Index (p>0.05). Non-obese and non-sarcopenic women walked further in the functional test than the other women (p = 0.021). Conclusion: SO was present in 5% of the elderly women and is related to poor physical performance, which was also present in elderly women with sarcopenia and obesity.

To review scientific literature to assess nutritional status of elderly patients with osteoarthritis in the last 16 years. This is an integrative literature review that included articles published in national and international journals indexed in PubMed, SciELO and BIREME. We selected 14 articles, and English language was predominant. The year of publication of articles ranged from 2006 to 2016, and most of papers were cross-sectional studies. To gather papers and for posterior evaluate, we used a validated data collection instrument and the included studies were critical analyzed by reading, gathering and analysis of articles. Studies suggested that there is a positive correlation between obesity and knee osteoarthritis. Obesity is one of the most important modifiable factors in worsening of osteoarthritis symptoms.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis of the hands is a highly prevalent disease that can lead to significant deformity and disability. The therapeutic approach in the management of osteoarthritis of the hands is based on pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. However, none of these treatments demonstrated a reduction of joint damage, and it presents itself in a purely symptomatic way. Yet, expert practitioners strongly recommend and use hand muscle strengthening in patients with hand osteoarthritis, but there is no consensus for such conduct. The objective of the study was to review the concepts about hand osteoarthritis as well as to bring the current evidence on muscle strengthening as a non-pharmacological treatment for this disease. CONTENTS: The study reviewed the United States National Library of Medicine database (Pubmed). The words used were: hand osteoarthritis, exercises, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. We included 5 articles in English, published in the last 10 years, focused on muscle strengthening exercises for osteoarthritis patients. CONCLUSION: There is no consensus, nor a more effective exercise protocol, although exercises and physiotherapy are still recommended. We suggest conducting randomized controlled clinical trials to improve the evidence on this subject.

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