Reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of leisure time physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of physical exercise.


METHODS
Community-based longitudinal study of free-living persons age 55 years or older in Sonoma, California.


METHODS
Baseline standardized interviews were conducted (n = 2046) as part of a longitudinal study of aging and physical performance. Seventeen reasons for limitation or avoidance of physical activities were evaluated, with responses grouped as: no limitations, medical, non-medical, and combined medical and non-medical reasons. Patterns of physical activity and medical conditions and direct measures of physical function were evaluated in relation to reasons for activity limitation by multinomial logistic regression.


RESULTS
Women reported more limitations/avoidance of physical activity than men (81.0% vs 73.5%). Medical reasons increased with age. Reduced walking speed and depressive symptomatology were associated with a combination of medical and non-medical reasons in both sexes. Living arrangements were associated with non-medical reasons for women but were not for men. Non-medical reasons were associated with a 20 to 30% reduction in the number of subjects who reported physical activity at recommended levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-medical factors are important determinants of activity limitation and should serve as targets for patient care providers and future interventions to improve participation in physical activity by older people.
Satariano
W A
WA
Division of Public Health Biology and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 94720-7360, USA.
Haight
T J
TJ
Tager
I B
IB
D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D003071:Cognition; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking