Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Desportos, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Florianópolis, 2013.Objetivo: Analisar a associacao entre forca muscular, variaveis sociodemograficas, estilo de vida e condicoes de saude em idosos de uma comunidade do sul do Brasil, de acordo com o sexo. Metodos: Trata-se de estudo epidemiologico transversal, de base domiciliar, que abrangeu 477 idosos (.60 anos) por meio de amostra probabilistica, do municipio de Antonio Carlos/SC. A forca muscular foi analisada por meio dos testes de forca de preensao manual (FPM) (dinamometro) e forca muscular de membros inferiores (FMMI) (#glevantar e sentar de uma cadeira#h). As variaveis explanatorias foram idade; saber ler e escrever (sim/nao); arranjo familiar (sozinho/acompanhado); tipo de trabalho ao longo da vida (agricultura/outros); condicao de trabalho (sim/nao), tabagismo (nunca fumou/ex-fumante e fumante atual); tempo sentado (.4/ 4-5/ .6 horas/dia); numero de morbidades (0-2/3+); sofrer quedas (sim/nao); estado cognitivo (alterado/normal). A regressao de Poisson (Razao de prevalencia [RP] e IC 95% [intervalo de confianca]) foi usada para analisar os dados. Resultados: Foram analisados 270 mulheres (73,2 #}8,82 anos) e 207 homens (73,3 #}8,96 anos). A frequencia de FPM inadequada e FMMI inadequada foi de 18,8% (IC95%:13,8-23,7) 29,8% (IC95%:23,9-35,6) no sexo feminino, respectivamente. Em ambos os testes, a forca inadequada foi associada a idade, a nao trabalhar e ao estado cognitivo alterado; e a sofrer quedas, no teste de FMMI. Nos homens, a FPM inadequada foi de 19,0% (IC95%: 13,3-24,8) e a FMMI inadequada foi de 25,3% (IC95%: 18,9-31,7) e foram associadas a idade, a nao saber ler e escrever, a relatar 3 ou mais morbidades. A FMMI inadequada tambem foi associada a trabalhar na agricultura ao longo da vida, a nao trabalhar, a nunca fumar e ao estado cognitivo alterado. Conclusao: Os fatores associados a forca muscular sao especificos ao teste e ao sexo. Os fatores associados a FPM sao idade, nao trabalhar e o estado cognitivo; e sofrer quedas com a FMMI, nas mulheres. Nos homens, a idade, nao saber ler e escrever, relatar 3 ou mais morbidades foram associados a FPM e FMMI inadequadas; e trabalhar na agricultura ao longo da vida, nao trabalhar, nunca fumar e estado cognitivo alterado foram associados a FMMI inadequada. Visto que estas medidas tem estreita relacao com a saude dos individuos e se configuram como metodos simples, poderiam ser inseridos na pratica da Estrategia Saude da Familia.Objective: To verify the association between muscular strength, sociodemographic variables, lifestyle, and health conditions in elderly community in the South of Brazil, by sex. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study, with population and household basis, made with 477 elderly persons (60 years and older) by probabilistic sample, residing in the municipality of Antonio Carlos. The muscular strength was verified by tests of handgrip strength (HGS) (dynamometer) and lower limb muscular strength/resistance (LLMS) (#gchair stand#h). The variables analyzed were age, knows how to read and write (yes/no), occupation throughout life (agriculture/other professions), family arrangement (lives alone/lives accompanied), currently working (yes/no), smoking (smoker; former smoker/never smoked), sitting time (. 4; 4-5; .6 hours/day), number of morbidities (0 to 2/3 or more), falls in the last year (no/yes), and cognitive state (normal/altered). The Poisson#fs regression (Prevalence ratio [PR] and 95% CI [confidence interval]) was used as measure of association. Results: We analyzed 270 women (73.2 #} 8.82 years) and 207 men (73.3 #} 8.96 years). The proportion of inadequate HGS and LLMS was 18.8% (95%CI: 13.8-23.7) and 29.8% (95%CI: 23.9-35.6) in female, respectively. In two tests, the inadequate strength was associated with age, the condition of not working, and the altered cognitive state. Furthermore, having suffered fall during the last year was associated with inadequate strength in LLMS test. In men, inadequate HGS was 19.0% (IC95%: 13.3-24.8) and LLMS was 25.3% (IC95%: 18.9-31.7) and was associated with age, no knows how to read and write, and 3 or more morbidities. The inadequate LLMS was also associated with work in agriculture throughout life, no currently working, never smoked and cognitive state altered. Conclusion: Factors associated with muscle strength are specific to the test. Factors associated with HGS are age, no work and cognitive state; on the other hand having suffered fall was associated with inadequate strength in LLMS test. In men, age, no knows how to read and write, 3 or more morbidities was associated with inadequate HGS and LLMS; work in agriculture throughout life, no currently working, never smoked and cognitive state altered was associated with inadequate strength in LLMS test. Strength tests are simple to apply and have a close relationship with the health of individuals. So, could be inserted in the practice of Family Health Strategy