Changes in Physical Capacity Among Middle-Aged Municipal Employees Over 16 Years

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to identify changes in different components of physical capacity among middle-aged women and men employed in the municipal branch for 16 years. The data were obtained by laboratory measurements and postal questionnaires. The study group consisted of 45 middle-aged subjects, who were on average 51.5 years old at the beginning of the follow-up in 1981 and 67.3 years in 1997. During the 16-year follow-up period, the average physical capacity of these workers decreased by approximately 20%. The study showed that the greatest changes occurred in isometric trunk muscle strength and in the flexibility of the spine, whereas smaller changes were noted in anthropometrics. The decrease of physical capacity was greater among men (range 11.6% to 33.7%) than among women (range 3.3% to 26.7%), although women had more individual variations. On average, people without disease or who were physically active displayed better physical capacity than people with disease or who were physically passive.

The authors would like to thank both the Pirkanmaa Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Juho Vainio Foundation for the financial support.

Notes

Note. The total may be greater than the number of study subjects (n = 25 and n = 20) because some subjects have more than one long-term disease.

Note. Exercise was defined as physical activity having a duration of at least 15 to 20 min, while also taking into account the extent of breathlessness during the exercise, or physically demanding leisure time activity. Brisk exercise was defined as physical activity inducing breathlessness.

^a Skinfolds of triceps and subscapular (mm). ^b Distance between the seventh cervical spine and the first sacral spine (mm). ^c Submaximal ergometer test. ns = not significant, p > .05.

Note. The calculations of the total changes were based on the means from individual's change in a certain variable (the last measurement value minus the first measurement value divided by the first and then multiplid by 100). ^a Skinfolds of triceps and subscapular (mm). ^b Distance between the seventh cervical spine and the first sacral spine (mm). ^c Submaximal ergometer test.