A Comparison of Memory and Physical Fitness Between Urban and Rural Elderly Using Therapeutic Recreational Sports Activities

Abstract

The research objectives were to compare the level of physical fitness with the memory of the elderly in the Jetis Village, Wonosari, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, and the urban elderly in Bausasran, Danurejan, Lempuyangan, Yogyakarta city, after being treated with therapeutic recreational sports activities and increase knowledge about the comparison of the level of physical fitness and memory of the elderly in Jetis Village, Gunung Kidul, Wonosari, Yogyakarta, with the level of fitness and memory of the elderly in the Bausasran, Danurejan, Lempuyangan, Yogyakarta city, after being treated using therapeutic recreational sports activities. The research design used a quasi-two-way experiment with pretest and posttest. The sampling technique used random sampling with the criteria of rural and urban elderly aged 60-75 years. The research sample consisted of 30 elderlies in Jetis Village, Wonosari, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, and 30 elderlies in Bausasran, Danurejan, Lempuyangan, Yogyakarta city. Furthermore, the measurement of physical fitness of the elderly used a six-minute walk; meanwhile, the measurement of memory used a Stroop test. The conclusion showed that the elderly in Jetis Village, Gunung Kidul, Wonosari, Yogyakarta city, had a higher or better score on physical fitness and memory levels than the elderly in urban areas after being treated with therapeutic recreational sports.