Dose-Response Walking Activity and Physical Function in Older Adults

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the dose-response relationship between walking activity and physical function (PF) in community-dwelling older adults. Physical activity (PA, pedometry) and PF (self-report [SF-36] and 6-minute walk test [6MWT]) were assessed in 836 individuals. Accumulated PA was categorized into four groups (1 = ≤ 2,500; 2 = 2,501-5,000; 3 = 5,001-7,500; and 4 = ≥ 7,501 steps/day). Across individual groups 1-4, SF-36 scores increased from 66.9 ± 25.0% to 73.5 ± 23.2% to 78.8 ± 19.7% to 81.3 ± 20.6%, and 6MWT increased from 941.7 ± 265.4 ft to 1,154.1 ± 248.2 ft to 1,260.1 ± 226.3 ft to 1,294.0 ± 257.9 ft. Both SF-36 and 6MWT scores were statistically different across all groups, apart from groups 3 and 4. PA and ranks of groups were highly significant predictors (p < .0001) for both SF-36 and 6MWT. There was a positive dose-response relationship evident for both SF-36 and 6MWT with increasing levels of PA. Low levels of PA appear to be an important indicator of poor functionality in older adults.

Dose–response between pedometer assessed physical activity, functional fitness, and fatness in healthy adults aged 50–80 years

“…In the current study the mean steps/day was 7052.2. This is not surprising given the different age ranges used in the present study compared to that of Dondzila et al (2015). This is not surprising given the different age ranges used in the present study compared to that of Dondzila et al (2015).…”

“…Despite this, there is uncertainty regarding the beneficial relationships of walking volume on physical functioning, especially when evaluating the impact of dose (increasing walking volume) -response (changes in physical functioning) in older populations (Dondzila et al, 2015). Recently, Dondzila et al (2015) demonstrated a dose-response relationship with walking volume and self-reported physical function and 6 minute walk test (6MWT) performance in a sample of American older adults. In their study, there was a graded relationship whereby high PA was associated with increased 6MWT distance and self-reported physical functioning.…”

“…Recently, Dondzila et al (2015) demonstrated a dose-response relationship with walking volume and self-reported physical function and 6 minute walk test (6MWT) performance in a sample of American older adults. The present study sought to act on the subsequent recommendations of Dondzila et al (2015) by investigating whether such dose-response relationships exist with other aspects of functionality and anthropometric measures in a sample of older adults. The present study sought to act on the subsequent recommendations of Dondzila et al (2015) by investigating whether such dose-response relationships exist with other aspects of functionality and anthropometric measures in a sample of older adults.…”

Differential exercise effects on quality of life and health-related quality of life in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

“…Further, using contemporary statistical methods, we were able to examine the possibility that different groups of participants had differential patterns of change in global QOL and HRQOL. Previous studies examining the global QOL, HRQOL, and exercise relationship have primarily used cross-sectional and observational designs, with the conclusions drawn from randomized controlled trials being quite mixed [2-5, 7]. This pattern of results is rarely reported in the results of intervention trials with the main focus on mean level change of groups.…”

“…The evidence from randomized controlled trials is both limited and equivocal [3-4]. A recent study assessing physical activity and HRQOL in older adults reported a positive dose-response relationship with HRQOL outcomes improving with increasing levels of physical activity [5]. However, a recent meta-analysis examined exercise intervention effects on HRQOL, as measured by the Short-Form (SF)-36 [6], in community-dwelling older adults [7] and found differing results.…”