title: Physical activity and physical function in older adults: the 45 and up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the strength of the relationship between physical activity and physical function in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire, New South Wales, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one thousand three hundred seventy-five Australian men and women aged 65 and older from the 45 and Up Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity engagement (Active Australia Survey), physical function (Medical Outcomes Study Physical Functioning), psychological distress (Kessler-10), and self-reported age, smoking history, education, height, and weight were all measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of physical activity were associated with better physical function in older adults (correlation coefficient = 0.166, P < .001). Participants engaging in higher levels of physical activity had progressively lower likelihoods of functional limitation (middle tertile: odds ratio (OR) = 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38-0.41; highest tertile: OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.27-0.29). This relationship remained significant, but weakened slightly, when adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, psychological distress, and educational attainment (middle tertile: adjusted OR (AOR) = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.46-0.50; highest tertile: AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.34-0.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant, positive relationship between physical activity and physical function in older adults, with older adults who are more physically active being less likely to experience functional limitation than their more-sedentary counterparts. Level of engagement in physical activity is an important predictor of physical function in older adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Yorston
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kolt
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires