Faculty Collaboration Database

Dose-response walking activity and physical function in older adults. J Aging Phys Act 2015 Apr;23(2):194-9

Date

05/09/2014

Pubmed ID

24812209

DOI

10.1123/japa.203-0083

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84925154629 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the dose-response relationship between walking activity and physical function (PF) in community-dwelling older adults. Physical activity (PA, pedometry) and PF (self-report [SF-36] and 6-minute walk test [6MWT]) were assessed in 836 individuals. Accumulated PA was categorized into four groups (1 = ≤ 2,500; 2 = 2,501-5,000; 3 = 5,001-7,500; and 4 = ≥ 7,501 steps/day). Across individual groups 1-4, SF-36 scores increased from 66.9 ± 25.0% to 73.5 ± 23.2% to 78.8 ± 19.7% to 81.3 ± 20.6%, and 6MWT increased from 941.7 ± 265.4 ft to 1,154.1 ± 248.2 ft to 1,260.1 ± 226.3 ft to 1,294.0 ± 257.9 ft. Both SF-36 and 6MWT scores were statistically different across all groups, apart from groups 3 and 4. PA and ranks of groups were highly significant predictors (p < .0001) for both SF-36 and 6MWT. There was a positive dose-response relationship evident for both SF-36 and 6MWT with increasing levels of PA. Low levels of PA appear to be an important indicator of poor functionality in older adults.

Author List

Dondzila CJ, Gennuso KP, Swartz AM, Tarima S, Lenz EK, Stein SS, Kohl RJ, Strath SJ

Author

Sergey S. Tarima PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acceleration
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Anthropometry
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test
Exercise Tolerance
Female
Geriatric Assessment
Humans
Independent Living
Male
Middle Aged
Physical Fitness
Time Factors
Walking