title: Social class differences in physical functions in middle-aged men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study is to analyze gender differences and social class gradients in physical functions; and to study whether the social class gradients in physical functions in midlife differed between men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used traditionally used physical performance tests and we added several tests of vigorous physical functioning (trunk muscle strength and power and sagittal flexibility). We measured reaction time, one-legged balance, sagittal flexibility, jump height, chair rise ability, trunk muscle- and handgrip strength in 5,412 participants aged 50 to 60 years (68.5% men).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found gender differences and social class gradients for all physical performance tests. We did not find an interaction between social class and gender, indicating that the social gradient in physical functions did not differ between men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Including measures of vigorous physical functioning may add to the existing knowledge on development of functional limitation and poorer functional health later in life.
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Åse Marie
authors.initials: ÅM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Lars L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skotte
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Ole Steen
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Drude
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molbo
authors.forename: Rikke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Charlotte Juul
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Avlund
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class
keywords: SES; early aging; physical function; physical tests