Relationship between physical performance and self-reported function in healthy individuals across the lifespan

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal health
• Rehabilitation science
• Clinical trial methodology

Background:

• Meaningful functional outcome measures are crucial for clinical trials in musculoskeletal conditions.
• Existing measures may not adequately capture individual experiences of function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between objective physical performance and subjective self/proxy-reported function.
• To identify potential performance-based measures for functional assessment in diverse age groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 1000 healthy individuals aged 3-101 years (1000 Norms Project).
• Assessed 12 physical performance tests (e.g., jump, dexterity, balance, gait, strength).
• Utilized multiple validated questionnaires for self/proxy-reported function and quality of life.

Main Results:

• Significant correlations found between physical performance and reported function in infants, children, adults, and older adults, with varying patterns across age groups.
• No significant relationships were observed in adolescents.
• Multivariate models identified key performance measures explaining up to 46% of the variance in reported function.

Conclusions:

• Several performance-based tests demonstrate significant associations with self/proxy-reported function.
• Identified physical measures can inform the development of age-appropriate functional scales for musculoskeletal clinical trials.