Aging with strength: Locomotor capacity and its determinants among the rural elderly community of India

The locomotor capacity of elderly individuals enables them to perform their daily activities without any assistance, but when it gets limited, it curbs their independence, and in resource-limited settings of rural India, it contributes heavily to their wellbeing.

This study aimed to assess their locomotor capacity and various factors associated with it.

This community-based cross-sectional study was done among 195 elderly individuals residing in a rural area of the state of West Bengal, India.

Study participants were selected using a cluster sampling method. Sociodemographic, nutritional, and behavioral factors and comorbidities were assessed, followed by gait testing using short-performance physical battery testing.

Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors via SPSS version 16 software.

By applying short-performance physical battery testing among them, it was found that 57.4% had limited mobility. Individuals with higher age [aOR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.15], female gender [aOR: 3.85; 95% CI: 1.78-8.34], higher nutritional vulnerability [aOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.36-2.23], lower physical activity [aOR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99], and the presence of diabetes mellitus [aOR: 4.21; 95% CI: 1.21-14.64] were reported as major factors to be associated with limited mobility.

Locomotor limitation in the elderly emerged as a significant public health problem. Along with regular physical activity and a healthy-diverse diet, a resilient community support system and social security measures were suggested, to promote and preserve the locomotor capacity of the elderly.