Sedentary Behavior and Physical Function: Objective Evidence From the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Abstract

Objective Investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior and physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA), controlling for moderate-vigorous physical activity () levels. Methods Sedentary behavior was objectively measured by accelerometer on 1,168 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative aged 49–83 years with radiographic knee OA at the 48 month clinic visit. Physical function was assessed using 20-meter walk and chair stand testing. Sedentary behavior was identified by accelerometer activity counts/minute <100. The cross-sectional association between sedentary quartiles and physical function was examined by multiple linear regression adjusting for demographic factors (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level), health factors (comorbidity, body mass index, knee pain, knee OA severity, presence of knee symptoms) and average daily MVPA minutes. Results Adults with knee OA spent 2/3 their daily time in sedentary behavior. The average gait speed among the most sedentary quartile was 3.88 feet/second, which was significantly slower than the speed of the less sedentary groups (4.23, 4.33, 4.33 feet/second, respectively). The average chair stand rate among the most sedentary group was significantly lower (25.9 stands/minute) than the rates of the less sedentary behavior groups (28.9, 29.1, 31.1 stands/minute, respectively). These trends remained significant in multivariable analyses adjusted for demographic factors, health factors and average daily MVPA minutes. Conclusion Being less sedentary was related to better physical function in adults with knee OA independent of MVPA time. These findings support guidelines to encourage adults with knee OA to decrease time spent in sedentary behavior in order to improve physical function.

Predictors of Change in Physical Function in Older Adults in Response to Long-Term, Structured Physical Activity: The LIFE Study

“…Perhaps unsurprisingly, more steps per day were positively associated with Δ SPPB score and gait speed. This finding is in agreement with recent publications indicating that sedentary behavior is associated with lower physical function 34-37 and greater losses in function over time, 38 even independent of time spent engaging in moderate or vigorous physical activity. 39 Thus, decreasing sedentary time through increased daily walking time and frequency as advocated by the recent Surgeon General’s 2015 Call to Action 40 may improve physical function and promote independence among older adults, regardless of whether they participate in moderate or vigorous physical activity.…”

Association of Physical Activity with Co-morbid Conditions in Geriatric Population

“…lack of physical activity is found to be one of the causative factors of arthritis whereas arthritis itself leads to impaired physical functioning of the body. This pattern was observed in our study as well as a study conducted by American college of Rheumatology [19][20]. In one study, pain intensity, frequency duration and number of sites were associated with demographic characteristics in 504 participants aged 60 years and over.…”

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