Effect of age and physical activity level on functional fitness in older adults

Abstract

It is difficult to distinguish between the effects of age and physical activity level in the functional fitness level of older adults. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of age and physical activity level on some functional fitness parameters in community-dwelling older adults.Two hundred twenty-nine elderly (111 female; 118 male) aged between 65-87 years living in the Balçova municipality region were divided into two groups: the young elderly (65-69 years old) and the elderly (70 years old or over). The "seven-day physical activity recall questionnaire" was used to estimate physical activity level (PAL). The functional fitness evaluation included the body mass index (BMI), the lower body strength (LBS), the dynamic balance, and the aerobic endurance. The young elderly were significantly worse with regard to BMI and significantly better with regard to LBS, dynamic balance, and aerobic endurance than the elderly; in contrast, PAL did not affect any of the functional fitness parameters. The young elderly showed worse BMI than the elderly when the age groups were less active. The young elderly showed better LBS and dynamic balance than the elderly when the age groups were more active. The young elderly showed significantly better aerobic endurance than the elderly in both the less and more active age groups. This study confirms that age affects functional fitness, whereas PAL generally does not. However, being more active is advantageous for the young elderly with regard to BMI, LBS, and dynamic balance.

The Effects of Age, Organized Physical Activity and Sedentarism on Fitness in Older Adults: An 8-Year Longitudinal Study

“…The decline in all the fitness variables was expected, as ageing is a natural and inevitable process with several previous studies reporting a decrease of fitness with age [24,25]. Similarly to previous studies [26], we found that this decline was not linear, as both males and females in the oldest group (≥75 years) showed the largest decreases for agility, walking speed and endurance capacity.…”

Social participation is associated with better functionality, health status and educational level in elderly women

“…Aging is a process characterized by declining of the physical and health function observed over time. (Tuna, Edeer, Malkoc, & Aksakoglu, 2009) This decline is a consequence of reduction in muscle strength, balance, endurance, agility, flexibility and increase in comorbidities related to the aging process. (Cruz-Jentoft et al, 2010;Glass, de Leon, Marottoli, & Berkman, 1999) Physical and health condition are associated with social support and social participation, which are protective factors to functionality and health in older people.…”

Determination of functional fitness age in women aged 50 and older

“…Delimiting the concept of fitness to the elderly, we deem it more appropriate to use the term functional capacity, understood as the ability to efficiently carry out basic activities of daily living that people should do to take care of themselves and live independently and autonomously 19 …”