Reliability and prevalence of physical performance examination assessing mobility and balance in older persons in the US: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
OBJECTIVE
This report provides reliability and prevalence estimates by sex, age, and race/ethnicity of an observed physical performance examination (PPE) assessing mobility and balance.


METHODS
The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) 1988-1994.


METHODS
A cross-sectional nationally representative survey.


METHODS
All persons aged 60 and older (n = 5,403) who performed the PPE either in the mobile examination center (MEC) or in the home during NHANES III (conducted 1988-1994).


METHODS
The PPE included timed chair stand, full tandem stand, and timed 8-foot walk.


RESULTS
Timed chair stand and 8-foot timed walk were reliable measurements (Intraclass Correlations > 0.5). Women were significantly slower (P < .001) than men for both timed chair stands and timed walk. Non-Hispanic white men and women did the maneuvers in significantly less time than non-Hispanic black men and women and Mexican Americans women (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Lower extremity functions measured by timed chair stand and walk are reliable. Women at every age group were more physically limited than men.
Ostchega
Y
Y
Division of Health Examination Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.
Harris
T B
TB
Hirsch
R
R
Parsons
V L
VL
Kington
R
R
Katzoff
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015588:Observer Variation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D004856:Postural Balance; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking