title: Age and gender differences in correlations of leisure-time, household, and work-related physical activity with physical performance in older Japanese adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare relationships of leisure-time, household, and work-related physical activity (PA) with physical performance by age and gender in older Japanese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 525 community-dwelling older adults (73.3 ± 5.2 years) recruited in 2009-2011 in Kasama City, rural Japan. We used the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly to assess PA variables. Physical performance was evaluated by 11 performance tests: grip strength, single-leg balance, functional reach, sit-and-reach, standing time from long sitting position, sit-to-stand, timed up and go, habitual walk, hand working, and simple and choice reaction times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for potential confounders, leisure-time PA in young-old (≤ 74 years) men correlated significantly with eight performance tests (absolute value of Spearman's partial rank correlation coefficient: r = 0.18-0.39), whereas in old-old (≥ 75 years) men it correlated with three performance tests (r = 0.20-0.23). Although leisure-time PA correlated with six performance tests (r = 0.19-0.22) in young-old women, there were no significant correlations between leisure-time PA and performance tests in old-old women. Household PA of young-old men (r = 0.20-0.23) and old-old women (r = 0.26-0.34) correlated with four performance tests. In old-old men and young-old women, no significant correlation was found between household PA and performance tests. Work-related PA did not relate significantly to any performance tests in any groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that leisure-time PA is related to physical performance, especially in young-old men and women, and household PA is especially related in young-old men and old-old women. Our findings suggest that supporting strategies for maintaining physical functions would differ by gender and age.
authors: Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Tsunoda
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Soma
authors: Naruki
authors: N
authors: Kitano
authors: Taishi
authors: T
authors: Tsuji
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Mitsuishi
authors: Ji-Yeong
authors: JY
authors: Yoon
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Okura
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012737:Sex Factors; D014937:Work
keywords: elderly; exercise; motor function; physical function; public health