Associations of physical activity in detailed intensity ranges with body composition and physical function. a cross-sectional study among sedentary older adults

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is crucial to maintain older adults' health and functioning, but the health benefits of particular activity intensities remain unclear. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to peruse the distribution of physical activity, and to investigate the associations of particular physical activity intensities with body composition and physical function among older adults. Methods: The sample comprised of 293 community-dwelling sedentary or at most moderately active older adults (42% men, mean age 74 ± 4 years). Physical activity was measured with a hip-worn tri-axial accelerometer over seven consecutive days, and investigated in detailed intensity range and in categories of sedentary, light and moderate-tovigorous activity. Fat percent and appendicular lean mass were measured with DXA. Physical function was assessed by six-minutes walking test (6-min walk), maximal walking speed over 10 m (10-m walk) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Associations were estimated with partial correlation adjusted for sex and age. Results: Participants spent on average 602 min per day sedentary, 210 min in light activity and 32 min in moderate-tovigorous activity. Light and moderate-to-vigorous activity were negatively associated with fat percent (r = − 0.360 and r = − 0.384, respectively, p < 0.001 for both), and positively with SPPB, 10-m walk and 6-min walk results (r = 0.145-0.279, p < 0.01, for light and r = 0.220-0.465, p < 0.001, for moderate-to-vigorous activity). In detailed investigation of the intensity range, associations of physical activity with fat percent, 6-min walk and 10-m walk were statistically significant from very light intensity activity onward, whereas significant associations between physical activity and SPPB were observed mostly at higher end of the intensity range. Sedentary time was positively associated with fat percent (r = 0.251, p < 0.001) and negatively with 6-min walk (r = − 0.170, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Perusing the physical activity intensity range revealed that, among community-dwelling sedentary or at most moderately active older adults, physical activity of any intensity was positively associated with lower fat percent and higher walking speed over long and short distances. These findings provide additional evidence of the importance of encouraging older adults to engage in physical activity of any intensity. More intervention studies are required to confirm the health benefits of light-intensity activity.

Accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity in relation to extraversion and neuroticism: a cross-sectional analysis of two studies

“…Accelerometer-measured physical activity was measured with different tri-axial accelerometers in the two samples [28,32]. In both samples, participants were advised to wear the monitors on the right side of their pelvis (just below the iliac crest at the height of the spina iliaca anterior superior) during waking hours, except for water-based activities, for seven consecutive days.…”

“…In both studies, participants were randomly selected from the Finnish National Registry. The study designs and recruitment of participants are described in previously published papers [ 26 – 28 ]. The flow chart of the studies is shown in Fig.…”

“…Exclusion criteria included a severe chronic condition, medication, or other factors that could affect study participation, excessive use of alcohol, difficulties in communication due to severe hearing or vision problems, and another family member already participating in the study. The initial sample comprised 3862 participants [28]. Of these, 69% (n = 2684) were reached by telephone for the screening interview.…”

Personality traits and physical functioning: a cross-sectional multimethod facet-level analysis

“…Physical activity was assessed by both accelerometers and self-reports. Participants were asked to wear a tri-axial accelerometer, model UKK RM42 (UKK, Tampere, Finland), in an elastic band on their right hip during waking hours for seven consecutive days except during water-based activities [ 41 ]. The accelerometer stores acceleration at 100 Hz sampling rate with 13-bit A/D conversion of the ±16 g range.…”

Examining the Associations Between Lean Mass, Muscular Strength, Muscle Quality and Physical Function

“…Physical function performance is an aspect of quality of life, defined as the ability to perform the basic actions that are essential for maintaining independence (5). Extensive research assessing physical function in older adults demonstrates that physical function performance is associated with physical activity level (6), lean mass, and muscular strength (5,(7)(8)(9)(10), however significantly less is known about physical function in middleaged adults.…”