title: Walking habits and health-related factors in 75-year-old Iranian women and men.
abstract: An active life style can postpone the aging process, prevent many aspects of functional decline and improve health and quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare elderly people who walked at least 30 min a day with others who walked less, from a gender perspective, regarding perceived health and fitness, physiological capacity and functional performance. A representative sample of 75-year-olds born 1932-33 and living in Tehran, in 2007-2008 was included by randomly selecting 1100 subjects from the latest Iranian census records (1996) by the Statistical Centre of Iran using computerized methods. Participants answered questions regarding health status and physical activity and performed functional tests. Better results for Walkers were observed in most subjective and objective outcome measures. Walkers were less likely to feel generally tired, more likely to have better physical fitness and to have the maximum score on the Falls Efficacy Scale, less likely to feel unstable during walking outdoors and less likely to be dependent or unsafe in ADL. Walkers of both genders performed better in the following tests: chair stand, one leg stance, maximal walking speed and six min walking. The difference between Walkers and Non-Walkers was greater in men. In general, older women and men who walked at least 30 min daily/almost daily showed better results in most health-related outcomes, ADL and functional performance than people who walked less. This study showed gender differences in the level of physical activity and functioning that must be taken into account when planning intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Iranian Research Centre on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: zmosallanezhad@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mosallanezhad
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salavati
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sotoudeh
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nilsson Wikmar
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frändin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aging; Health; Old people; Physical activity; Physical function; Walking habits