title: Do Associations Between Perceived Environmental and Individual Characteristics and Walking Limitations Depend on Lower Extremity Performance Level?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze whether the associations between perceived environmental and individual characteristics and perceived walking limitations in older people differ between those with intact and those with poorer lower extremity performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons aged 75 to 90 ( N = 834) participated in interviews and performance tests in their homes. Standard questionnaires were used to obtain walking difficulties; environmental barriers to and, facilitators of, mobility; and perceived individual hindrances to outdoor mobility. Lower extremity performance was tested using Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among those with poorer lower extremity performance, the likelihood for advanced walking limitations was, in particular, related to perceived poor safety in the environment, and among those with intact performance to perceived social issues, such as lack of company, as well as to long distances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The environmental correlates of walking limitations seem to depend on the level of lower extremity performance.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakari
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantakokko
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
authors.forename: Erja
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Portegijs
authors.affiliation: 2 Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwarsson
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
authors.forename: Sarianna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipilä
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viljanen
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010465:Perception; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013548:Sweden; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: aging; environment; mobility; walking