Musculoskeletal impairment among the non-institutionalized aged

This study examines musculoskeletal impairment among 711 community elders living in Massachusetts; all are over 70 years of age, most are Caucasian (99%) and female (65%). Impairment was assessed by having trained interviewers ask participants to perform 10 standardized range-of-motion patterns. Findings reveal a high degree of musculoskeletal ability in this very aged sample. In only 3 of 10 movement patterns do more than 25% of the sample display any sign of impairment.