Longitudinal Change in Physical Activity and Disability in Adults

Abstract

Objectives-To prospectively examine whether physical activity or change in physical activity increases or decreases the risk of disability later in life.Methods-Tobit regression models were used to examine the effect of physical activity at baseline and change from baseline on disability 10 and 20 years later in 6913 adults.Results-Increasing recreational physical activity was associated with reduced risk of disability whereas reducing recreational physical activity increased the risk of disability after 10 years. Conclusions-The analyses reveal a protective effect of sustained physical activity on disability among adults.Keywords recreational activity; nonrecreational activity; physical functioning; health behavior Physical activity has been shown to have a protective effect on the development of disease and disability, and regular physical activity is a staple of preventive health programs. 1 Among relatively healthy individuals, physical activity is associated with optimal function and low incidence of functional disability. 2 Even among those with disabilities, exercise programs improve health and can reduce existing levels of functional disability. 3 Low levels of physical activity caused by difficulties in performing daily activities may cause a vicious circle leading to further decline in strength and worsening of functional ability. Alternatively, increased physical activity among older people is associated with increased functional ability 4 as well as improved cognitive performance, mood, body image, selfesteem, and a general feeling of psychological well-being. 5 Verbrugge and Jette 6 suggested that a high level of physical activity some years earlier might be expected to improve the likelihood of having a lower level of disability, based on the familiar "use it or lose it" principal. Most studies that show a beneficial effect of exercise on disability have focused on leisure-time physical activity. 7 However, nonrecreational physical activity has also shown a protective effect among vigorously active occupations against mortality from coronary heart disease compared with the effect observed among sedentary jobs. With respect to disability, some studies have suggested that jobs requiring frequent heavy lifting greater than 25 pounds, especially when combined with twisting or asymmetry, might predispose individuals to disability. 8,9 The purpose of this investigation is to address the Copyright (c) PNG Publications All rights reserved. Contact Dr Gretebeck; r.gretebeck@wayne.edu. NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript relationship between changes in both nonrecreational and recreational physical activity and disability later in life using a large national database with 3 separate time points over a 20-year period in adults of all ages. NIH Public Access Methods and Materials SampleThis investigation was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Purdue University. The database used in this investigation has been previously described. 10 Briefly, data from ...

Long-Term Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Other Health Habits as Predictors of Objectively Monitored Late-Life Physical Activity – A 40-Year Twin Study

“…Some observations suggest that midlife low physical activity, obesity, and poor health status predict sedentary behavior in old age. 5 Low physical activity 6,7 and other lifestyle factors, such as smoking and use of alcohol 8–10 predict or are associated with later disability and impaired mobility. However, no data exist describing whether long-term leisure-time physical activity during adulthood predicts objectively measured physical activity/mobility in old age.…”

Changes in Health Behaviors and Their Associations With Depressive Symptoms Among Israelis Aged 50+

“…It was found, for example, that lack of physical activity increases the risk of illness and death (Hurley & Reuter, 2011; Reddigan, Arden, Riddell & Kuk, 2011), physical disabilities (Gretebeck, Ferraro, Black, Holland & Gretebeck, 2012) and low self-rated health (Molarius et al, 2007). It was also found that weight change (loss or gain) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality.…”

Frailty index–predicted mortality is moderated by health-related behaviors: a 4-year community-based longitudinal-cohort study

“…In a total sample of 498,135 participants conducted by the UK Biobank, the highest risk of death was found in participants with the lowest PA level, and the risk of mortality increased as the PA quantile decreased [45]. The possible explanation may contribute to the beneficial effect that PA was demonstrated can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases [46], Alzheimer disease [47], Parkinson disease [48], and disability [46], which are all FI components, and can reduce mortality in turn. Our research also suggested that SP actively reduced the probability of mortality approximately eightfold in frail participants compared with those who seldom participated in social activities.…”