Association between physical activity and physical functioning in community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the association between level of physical activity (PA) and physical functioning among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A total of 176 older adults were assessed with a PA socio-cultural adapted questionnaire (PA-SCAQ), the participants were categorized into three PA groups (low, moderate and high). Physical functioning was examined by using: Hand Grip Strength (HGS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Statistical analyses were performed to determine differences between the groups according to age, gender and PA level. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine the association between the PA level and physical functioning values.

Major findings: Older adults who participated in moderate-intensity aerobic PA for ≥150 min/week have recorded higher values of physical functioning than older adults who were classified as low physically active (p < 0.001). PA levels were positively correlated with HGS and SPPB and negatively correlated with TUG (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: There were strong associations between higher levels of PA and levels of physical functioning (p < 0.001). Moderate to high level of PA may contribute to maintain physical functioning among community-dwelling older adults.

Keywords:

• Moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity
• functional performance
• older adults
• physiotherapy

Acknowledgements

We thank all participants and centres that participated in this study. Many thanks to all colleagues of physiotherapists for their support throughout the study, especially in the recruitment process of the participants.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.