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Physical fitness and functional limitations in community-dwelling older adults
M C Morey1, C F Pieper, J Cornoni-Huntley
1Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, NC 27705, USA. morey@geri.duke.edu
Background:
Conceptual models of disability have focused on disease-specific factors as the primary cause of disability. Functional limitations in the performance of basic tasks are considered primary mediators on the causal pathway from disease to disability.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between three fitness components (cardiorespiratory, morphologic, and strength) and functional limitations.
Methods:
Analyses employed data collected upon 161 older adults (72.5 +/- 5.1 yr) who agreed to undergo baseline testing in a clinical trial.
Results:
After controlling for age, race, sex, education, depressive symptoms, and body mass index, all three fitness components were directly associated with functional limitations (P < 0.05). This study is the first to characterize a broad set of individual fitness components as they relate to functional limitations and the first to examine directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness within the context of existing disability models.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that low fitness is a risk factor for functional decline independent of disease processes.