title: Relationship of age on enjoyment of physical activity in upper extremity illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orthopaedic surgeons often work under the assumption that patients over 60 are low-demand individuals. This study addressed the primary null hypothesis that older age does not correlate with the enjoyment of physical activities in patients with upper extremity illness. Secondary analyses sought factors associated with enjoyment of physical activity, activity level and magnitude of disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 98 new and follow-up outpatients with upper extremity illnesses completed a measure of enjoyment of physical activity (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)), were categorized into one of three levels of activity after interview, and completed measures of general disability (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function CAT), upper extremity-specific disability (Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score), coping responses to pain (PROMIS Pain Interference CAT), and symptoms of depression (PROMIS Depression CAT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater enjoyment of physical activity correlated with older age (r = 0.29, p = 0.0039) but not with other explanatory variables. The final multivariable model of factors associated with greater physical activity included older age and male sex. The final multivariable model of factors associated with diminished PROMIS Physical Function included greater PROMIS Pain Interference, male sex, other pain conditions, and separated/divorced and single marital status and accounted for 34 % of the variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enjoyment of physical activity does not decrease with age. Patient-specific expectations, goals and preferences for physical activity should be assessed prior to decision-making on treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, Prognostic Study case series.
authors.affiliation: The Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jayakumar
authors.affiliation: The Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA.
authors.forename: Celeste L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Overbeek
authors.affiliation: The Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA ; Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, Suite 2C, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114 USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ring
keywords: Activity; Ageing; Enjoyment; Extremity; Illness; Upper