Corpo e envelhecimento: o que a ausência das práticas corporais no confinamento devido à Covid-19 nos revela para se (re) pensar o corpo idoso

Abstract

The present research seeks to apprehend the perceptions that the elderly of Tabuleiro do Norte (CE) built about their bodies and old age in the face of the absence of bodily practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In view of this, the general objective of this research is to understand the perceptions that the elderly of Tabuleiro do Norte (CE) built about their bodies and old age in the absence of corporal practices, in order to identify the contributions of these perceptions to Education Physical. We justify this research through the scarcity of literature and reinforce the academic importance of this study for contributing to the expansion of scientific production in the field of studies on the body related to aging and Physical Education using the phenomenological method. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 elderly participants in water aerobics at the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS) for at least one year. It was identified that the participants have different experiences about old age, and these were discussed in the units of meaning old age as a limitation, old age as freedom and old is the other, it was apprehended with these discussions that old age is expressed in the body, and that it is experienced in different ways, which are influenced not only biologically but also culturally. In another moment, the understandings of the elderly body of the participants were discussed, identifying the units of meaning slender body, body in decline, dependent body, and sadness, stress and loneliness, it was noticed that the elderly body brings with it experiences that are influenced by the context in which they are inserted, that is why we perceive the divergences in their speeches. The importance of including the vision of the elderly in society is for society to understand the different faces of old age, thus being able to respect them, as well as prepare to experience them as well. In addition, it should be noted that it was not part of the objectives to question how beneficial or not isolation was, but the need to create and maintain public policies that meet the physical, psychological, social and cultural needs of the elderly and even though they can count on with qualified professionals to meet these demands. Finally, we highlight the need for more studies on this topic, possibly covering other body practices or in other regions, to be able to expand the ways that Physical Education will intervene in elderly bodies, understanding the limitations and adapting body practices when necessary.