Habitual physical activity levels are associated with performance in measures of physical function and mobility in older men

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether objectively measured physical activity levels are associated with physical function and mobility in older men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Academic research center. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two community-dwelling men aged 65 and older with self-reported mobility limitations were divided into a low-activity and a high-activity group based on the median average daily physical activity counts of the whole sample. MEASUREMENTS: Physical activity according to triaxial accelerometers; physical function and mobility according to the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait speed, stair climb time, and a lift-and-lower task; aerobic capacity according to maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max); and leg press and chest press maximal strength and peak power. RESULTS: Older men with higher physical activity levels had a 1.4-point higher mean SPPB score and a 0.35-m/s faster walking speed than those with lower physical activity levels. They also climbed a standard flight of stairs 1.85 seconds faster and completed 60% more shelves in a lift-and-lower task (all P