Unmet physical activity need in old age.
OBJECTIVE
To examine which individual and environmental factors correlate with unmet physical activity need in old age and predict development of unmet physical activity need (the feeling that one's level of physical activity is inadequate and thus distinct from the recommended amount of physical activity) over a 2-year follow-up.


METHODS
Observational prospective cohort study and cross-sectional analyses.


METHODS
Community and research center.


METHODS
A total of 643 community-living ambulatory people aged 75 to 81 took part in face-to-face interviews and examinations at baseline and 314 at the 2-year follow-up.


METHODS
Unmet physical activity need and its potential individual and environmental correlates were assessed at baseline. Development of unmet physical activity need was assessed over the 2-year follow-up period.


RESULTS
At baseline, all participants were able to walk at least 500 m outdoors, but 14% perceived unmet physical activity need. Unmet physical activity need was more prevalent in those with musculoskeletal diseases, depressive symptoms, and mobility limitations. Hills in the nearby environment, lack of resting places, and dangerous crossroads correlated with unmet physical activity need at baseline; the association was especially strong in those with walking difficulties. Significant baseline predictors for incident unmet physical activity need (15%) included fear of moving outdoors, hills in the nearby environment, and noisy traffic.


CONCLUSIONS
Unmet physical activity need is common in ambulatory community-living older people who have health and mobility problems and report negative environmental features in their neighborhood. Solutions to overcome barriers to physical activity need to be developed to promote equal opportunities for physical activity participation.
Rantakokko
Merja
M
Department of Health Sciences, Finnish Centre for Interdisciplinary Gerontology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. merja.rantakokko@jyu.fi
Iwarsson
Susanne
S
Hirvensalo
Mirja
M
Leinonen
Raija
R
Heikkinen
Eino
E
Rantanen
Taina
T
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking