Domestic activities and walking in the elderly: evaluation from a 30-hour heart rate recording

The physical activity pattern among 43 subjects (25 women, 18 men) from the Intervention Study of Elderly in Gothenburg (IVEG) has been evaluated by means of heart rate monitoring, rating of perceived exertion and recording activities over a 30-hour period. These subjects had previously been interviewed about their activity pattern, including the duration of their daily walks. In 91% of the participants the average heart rate was below 100 beats/min during walking. Considerable individual variations were noted in the duration of domestic activities and of walks. Using heart rate levels equal to or above the average heart rate during walking as a criterion, it was found that 68% of the women, but only 17% of the men, spent more time on domestic activities than on walking. Nonetheless, it is suggested that in addition to walking, domestic activities, owing to their duration, are important in maintaining physical fitness in the elderly, especially among women. This should be taken into account when physical activity is being classified (to avoid bias in favour of men). A modified version of a previously published six-grade scale for the classification of physical activity has been suggested.