The Associations between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Men and Women

Harukaze Yatsugi, Tao Chen, Si Chen, Xin Liu and Hiro Kishimoto
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Harukaze Yatsugi: Department of Behavior and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Tao Chen: Sports and Health Research Center, Department of Physical Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Si Chen: School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
Xin Liu: Department of Behavior and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Hiro Kishimoto: Department of Behavior and Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Objective: The relationships between physical activity (PA) and physical function (PF) among older Japanese adults have been examined before, with some studies reporting that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is positively associated with PF. However, it is unclear whether the observed associations differ between men and women. In this study, we investigated the associations of objectively measured MVPA, light physical activity (LPA), and sedentary time (ST) with different PF levels in older Japanese men and women. Subjects and Methods: A total of 810 community-dwelling subjects aged 65–75 years were investigated (52.1% women, 47.9% men). The PF variables included grip strength, one-leg standing, usual and maximum walking speeds, and chair-standing time. PA (MVPA, LPA, and ST) and the number of steps taken daily were assessed for seven consecutive days by a tri-axial accelerometer. We determined the sex-specific quartiles of MVPA, LPA, and ST and analyzed their associations with physical function in separate models for each exposure measure. Results: In the crude analysis, MVPA was significantly associated with all PF variables in the men, and with the usual walking speed, max. walking speed, and chair-standing time in the women. Neither LPA nor ST was significantly associated with any PF variables. After adjusting potential confounding factors, significant associations between MVPA and usual walking speed remained in the men and women. Conclusions: Only greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly associated with higher levels of PF variables in both men and women. Thus, time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) can help older adults maintain or improve their physical function.

Keywords: physical activity; physical function; tri-axial accelerometer; older adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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