Physical fitness and functional limitations in community-dwelling older adults.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that low fitness is a risk factor for functional decline independent of disease processes.
Morey
M C
MC
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, NC 27705, USA. morey@geri.duke.edu
Pieper
C F
CF
Cornoni-Huntley
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010809:Physical Fitness