There's a lack of evidence on the association between light-intensity physical activity and disability. This study examines the relationships in activity by self-reported physical function in five domains (i.e., activities of daily living [ADL], instrumental ADL, leisure activities, lower extremity, and general activities), and whether this association varies by age.
Design.
Cross-sectional.
Setting.
Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2004 and 2005–2006 waves.
Subjects.
Participants included 5700 men and women ages 20 to 85 years.
Measures.
Difficulty with various activities was measured with the Physical Functioning Questionnaire, accelerometer-measured physical activity, demographics, and self-rated health.
Analysis.
Ordinary least squares regression models were run to examine the relationship between physical function in each domain, light-intensity activity, and the moderating effect of age. Analyses controlled for body mass index, moderate-to-vigorous–intensity activity, self-reported health, accelerometer wear time, and gender.
Results.
Little variation was seen in light-intensity physical activity among younger adults regardless of disability status. Older adults reporting difficulty with activities engaged in significantly less light-intensity physical activity compared to those with no disability (271.8 vs. 316.5 minutes). Age significantly moderated the association between light-intensity physical activity and leisure activities (p = .048), and lower extremity mobility (p = .039). Age did not moderate other domains of disability.
Conclusion.
Younger age may be protective regarding the influence of disability on light-intensity activity. In addition, disability may be more debilitating for some older individuals. Interventions to increase light-intensity activity should aim to address disability at all ages, with increased attention for older adults.
BraultMW. Americans With Disabilities: 2010. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 2012.
2.
BraultM. Americans With Disabilities: 2005, Current Population Reports. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 2008.
3.
BraultMHootmanJHelmickMD. Prevalence and most common causes of disability among adults—United States, 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2009;58:421–426.
4.
US Dept of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Washington, DC: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2008.
5.
De VriesNVan RavensbergCHobbelenH. Effects of physical exercise therapy on mobility, physical functioning, physical activity and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with impaired mobility, physical disability and/or multi-morbidity: A meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev.2011;11:136–149.
6.
HealyGNDunstanDWSalmonJ. Objectively measured light-intensity physical activity is independently associated with 2-h plasma glucose. Diabetes Care. 2007;30:1384–1389.
7.
KayyaliASinghJSubhashniD. Exercise: Some is better than none. Am J Nurs.2011;111:62.
8.
LeeIMRexrodeKMCookNR. Physical activity and coronary heart disease in women: Is “no pain, no gain” passe?JAMA. 2001;285:1447–1454.
9.
HaskellWLLeeIMPateRR. Physical activity and public health: Updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39:1423–1434.
10.
WeuveJKangJHMansonJE. Physical activity, including walking, and cognitive function in older women. JAMA. 2004;292:1454–1461.
11.
SattelmairJPertmanJDingEL. Dose response between physical activity and risk of coronary heart disease: A meta-analysis. Circulation. 2011;124:789–795.
12.
AdamsPFSchoenbornCA. Health behaviors of adults: United States, 2002–04. Vital Health Stat.2006;10:1–140.
13.
CaspersenCJPereiraMACurranKM. Changes in physical activity patterns in the United States, by sex and cross-sectional age. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32:1601–1609.
14.
CressMEBuchnerDMQuestadKA. Exercise: Effects on physical functional performance in independent older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.1999;54:M242–M248.
15.
HallKSMcAuleyE. Examining indirect associations between physical activity, function, and disability in independent- and assisted-living residents. J Phys Act Health. 2011;8:716–723.
16.
KingACPruittLAPhillipsW. Comparative effects of two physical activity programs on measured and perceived physical functioning and other health-related quality of life outcomes in older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.2000;55:M74–M83.
17.
PahorM. Effects of a physical activity intervention on measures of physical performance: Results of the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.2006;61A:1157–1165.
18.
ChandlerJMDuncanPWKochersbergerGStudenskiS. Is lower extremity strength gain associated with improvement in physical performance and disability in frail, community-dwelling elders?Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998;79:24–30.
19.
RandDEngJJTangPF. Daily physical activity and its contribution to the health-related quality of life of ambulatory individuals with chronic stroke. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2010;8:80.
20.
Teixeira-SalmelaLFOlneySJNadeauSBrouwerB. Muscle strengthening and physical conditioning to reduce impairment and disability in chronic stroke survivors. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80:1211–1218.
21.
BakerKRNelsonMEFelsonDT. The efficacy of home based progressive strength training in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. J Rheumatol. 2001;28:1655–1665.
22.
BrownDWBalluzLSHeathGW. Associations between recommended levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life. Findings from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Prev Med.2003;37:520–528.
23.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Ga: US Dept of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2012.
24.
BoddeAESeoDCFreyG. Correlation between physical activity and self-rated health status of non-elderly adults with disabilities. Prev Med.2009;49:511–514.
25.
Leino-ArjasPSolovievaSRiihimäkiH. Leisure time physical activity and strenuousness of work as predictors of physical functioning: A 28 year follow up of a cohort of industrial employees. Occup Environ Med.2004;61:1032–1038.
26.
TroianoRPBerriganDDoddKW. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40:181–188.
27.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, Md: US Dept of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2003–2004.
28.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data. Hyattsville, Md: US Dept of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2005–2006.
29.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: MEC Interviewers Procedures Manual. Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2004.
30.
KuoHKBeanJFYenCJLeveilleSG. Linking C-reactive protein to late-life disability in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.2006;61:380–387.
FreedsonPSMelansonESirardJ. Calibration of the Computer Science and Applications, Inc accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;30:777–781.
33.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Analytic Note Regarding 2007–2010 Survey Design Changes and Combining Data Across Other Survey Cycles. Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2011.
34.
TrostSGOwenNBaumanAE. Correlates of adults' participation in physical activity: Review and update. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;34:1996–2001.
35.
RantanenTGuralnikJMSakari-RantalaR. Disability, physical activity, and muscle strength in older women: The Women's Health and Aging Study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80:130–135.
36.
MotlRWSnookEMMcAuleyE. Are physical activity and symptoms correlates of functional limitations and disability in multiple sclerosis?Rehabil Psychol. 2007;52:463.
37.
KuoHKLeveilleSGYenCJ. Exploring how peak leg power and usual gait speed are linked to late-life disability: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2002. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2006;85:650–658.
38.
MyersAMHollidayPJHarveyKAHutchinsonKS. Functional performance measures: Are they superior to self-assessments?J Gerontol. 1993;48:M196–M206.
39.
WilcoxSDowdaMLevitonLC. Active for Life: Final results from the translation of two physical activity programs. Am J Prev Med.2008;35:340–351.
