title: Leisure-Time and Occupational Physical Activity in Early and Late Adulthood in Relation to Later Life Physical Functioning.
abstract: Physical activity (PA) has beneficial effects on older age physical functioning, but longitudinal studies with follow-ups extending up to decades are few. We investigated the association between leisure-time PA (LTPA) and occupational PA (OPA) from early to late adulthood in relation to later life performance-based physical functioning.
  
  
  
  The study involved 1260 people aged 60 to 79 years who took part in assessments of physical functioning (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB] test, 10-m maximal walking test, and grip strength test). Participants' data on earlier life LTPA/OPA (age range 25 to 74 years) were received from the previous studies (average follow-up 13.4 years). Logistic, linear, and censored regression models were used to assess the associations between LTPA/OPA earlier in life and subsequent physical functioning.
  
  
  
  A high level of LTPA earlier in life was associated with a lower risk of having difficulties on the SPPB test (odds ratio [OR]: 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.58) and especially on the chair rise test (OR: 0.42; 95% CI, 0.27-0.64) in old age. Heavy manual work predicted difficulties on SPPB (OR: 1.91; 95% CI, 1.22-2.98) and the chair rise test (OR: 1.75; 95% CI, 1.14-2.69) and poorer walking speed (β = .10, P = .005).
  
  
  
  This study highlights the importance of LTPA on later life functioning, but also indicates the inverse effects that may be caused by heavy manual work.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kulmala
authors.forename: Tiia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngandu
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pajala
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehtisalo
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levälahti
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antikainen
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oksa
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peltonen
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rauramaa
authors.forename: Hilkka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soininen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strandberg
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
authors.forename: Miia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivipelto
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking
keywords: aging; disability; epidemiology; functional performance; gerontology; physical activity