Health-related variables and functional fitness among older adults.
This study assesses the functional fitness of a convenient sample of older adults (>70 years), to examine correlations between functional fitness and several other health-related variables and to compare with criterion performance data as established by Rikli and Jones (2001). One hundred and seven community-dwelling older adults with an average age of 78.36 +/- 5.60 years performed the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and responded to several health-related questionnaires. The SFT scores were similar to the scores in the low-active group data published by Rikli and Jones (1999b). There was a strong correlation between the 30-second arm curl and the 2-minute step-in-place (r = .54, p < .01). More than one-half of the participants performed in the normal range or above normal range, according to the criterion performance data. This demonstrates a high level of functional fitness.
Wilkin
Linda D
LD
California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA. lwilkin@csusb.edu
Haddock
Bryan L
BL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors