title: The association between objectively measured physical activity and life-space mobility among older people.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity and life-space mobility in community-dwelling older people. Life-space refers to the spatial area a person purposefully moves through in daily life (bedroom, home, yard, neighborhood, town, and beyond) and life-space mobility to the frequency of travel and the help needed when moving through different life-space areas. The study population comprised community-living 75- to 90-year-old people {n = 174; median age 79.7 [interquartile range (IQR) 7.1]}, participating in the accelerometer substudy of Life-Space Mobility in Old Age (LISPE) project. Step counts and activity time were measured by an accelerometer (Hookie "AM20 Activity Meter") for 7 days. Life-space mobility was assessed with Life-Space Assessment (LSA) questionnaire. Altogether, 16% had a life-space area restricted to the neighborhood when moving independently. Participants with a restricted life space were less physically active and about 70% of them had exceptionally low values in daily step counts (≤ 615 steps) and moderate activity time (≤ 6.8 min). Higher step counts and activity time correlated positively with life-space mobility. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the temporal order of low physical activity level and restriction in life-space mobility.
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: L-T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Portegijs
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantakokko
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viljanen
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saajanaho
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eronen
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking
keywords: Aging; accelerometer; life-space mobility; mobility limitation