ARS | Publication request: Relationship between physical functioning and physical activity in the lifestyle interventions and independence for elders pilot

Submitted to: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 10, 2010
Publication Date: October 29, 2010
Citation: Chale-Rush, A., Guralnik, J.M., Walkup, M.P., Miller, M.E., Rejeski, W., Katula, J.A., King, A.C., Glynn, N.W., Manini, T.M., Blair, S.N., Fielding, R.A. 2010. Relationship between physical functioning and physical activity in the lifestyle interventions and independence for elders pilot. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 58(10):1918-1924.

Interpretive Summary: We examined whether participation in usual moderate-intensity or more-vigorous physical activity was associated with physical function performance in a group of four hundred twenty-four older adults aged 70 to 89 at risk for mobility disability (scoring <10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)). The SPPB summary score of physical functioning was associated with self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity. Using regression analyses, age, minutes of MVPA, number of medications, and depressive symptoms were all associated with the SPPB function score. These results suggest that participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity as well as depressive symptoms, age, and number of medications are associated with physical function performance and should all be taken into consideration in the prevention of mobility disability.

Technical Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To determine whether participation in usual moderate-intensity or more-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with physical function performance and to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial, and disease-related covariates that may also compromise physical function performance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of baseline variables of a randomized controlled intervention trial. SETTING: Four academic research centers. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred twenty-four older adults aged 70 to 89 at risk for mobility disability (scoring <10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) and able to complete the 400-m walk test within 15 minutes. MEASUREMENTS: Minutes of MVPA (dichotomized according to above or below 150 min/wk of MVPA) assessed according to the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire, SPPB score, 400-m walk test, sex, body mass index (BMI), depressive symptoms, age, and number of medications. RESULTS: The SPPB summary score was associated with minutes of MVPA (p=0.16, P=.001). In multiple regression analyses, age, minutes of MVPA, number of medications, and depressive symptoms were associated with performance on the composite SPPB (P<.05). There was an association between 400-m walk time and minutes of MVPA (p=-0.18; P<.001). In multiple regression analyses, age, sex, minutes of MVPA, BMI, and number of medications were associated with performance on the 400-m walk test (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Minutes of MVPA, sex, BMI, depressive symptoms, age, and number of medications are associated with physical function performance and should all be taken into consideration in the prevention of mobility disability.