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Abstract: Home care workers are frequently exposed to physical demands that may affect their physical fitness and overall health. However, this occupational group remains insufficiently researched. The aim of this study was to examine the physical fitness of home care workers and its associations with body mass index, self-perceived health, and self-perceived physical fitness. Eighty-eight employees (86.4% women) were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed four motor performance assessments (upper-and lower-limb flexibility, isometric handgrip strength, and standing vertical jump) and three anthropometric measurements (body height, body mass, and waist circumference), as well as a questionnaire on self-perceived health, self-perceived physical fitness, and frequency of physical activity. Waist-to-height ratio indicated moderate-to-high health risk in 56.9% of participants, while body mass index indicated overweight or obesity in 70% of participants. Body mass index was weakly negatively correlated with handgrip strength (ρₛ = –0.316; p = 0.025). Most participants rated their health and physical fitness as average; 21.6% reported never engaging in moderate-intensity and 53.8% never engaging in vigorous-intensity physical activity. The results indicate reduced lower-limb flexibility and lower-limb explosive power, while isometric handgrip strength was relatively well preserved. These findings highlight the need for targeted exercise programs and body weight management strategies that address occupational demands and include exercises to improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, with the aim of maintaining functional capacity and reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Keywords: physical activity, motor abilities, indices of nutritional status, home care workers
Published in RUP: 27.08.2026; Views: 381; Downloads: 17
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