Fast walking and physical activity are independent contributors to improved physical function

To clarify whether the presence or absence of fast walking and habitual physical activity are independently associated with the incidence of functional disability.

This historical cohort study was comprised of 9,652 (4,412 men, mean age 65 years) individuals aged 39-98 years without functional disability at baseline. Functional disability was determined based on the Japanese long-term care insurance system, which specified requirements for assistance in the activities of daily living. The impact of fast walking and habitual physical activity on the incidence of functional disability was analysed by Cox proportional hazards models.

The follow-up period was a median of 3.7 years during which 165 patients were newly certified as having functional disability. In the multivariate analysis, baseline age in 5-year increments (hazard ratio 2.42 [95% confidence interval 2.18-2.69]), no habitual physical activity (1.56 [1.07-2.27]), and not fast walking (1.89 [1.32-2.69]) significantly increased the risk of functional disability after adjustment for covariates. The stratified analysis showed that compared with physical activity (+), the impact of physical activity (-) on the incidence of functional disability was observed in those aged ≥75 years regardless of fast walking (+). Fast walking (-) significantly increased the risk of disability compared with fast walking (+) in those aged <75 years regardless of a physical activity habit.

In Japanese, slow walking speed and lack of a physical activity habit were shown to be independent risk factors for incident functional disability, with their impact differing according to age.