title: Accelerometer Assessment of Physical Activity and Its Association with Physical Function in Older Adults Residing at Assisted Care Facilities.
abstract: To describe levels of physical activity among older adults residing at assisted care facilities and their association with physical function.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional analysis.
  
  
  
  Assisted care facilities within the greater Boston, MA area.
  
  
  
  Older adults aged 65 years and older (N = 65).
  
  
  
  Physical Activity Level (PAL) as defined by quartiles from accelerometry (counts and steps), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Score, gait speed, and handgrip strength.
  
  
  
  Participants in the most active accelerometry quartile engaged in 25 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and walked 2,150 steps/day. These individuals had an SPPB score, 400 meter walk speed, and handgrip strength that was 3.7-3.9 points, 0.3-0.4 meters/second, and 4.5-5.1 kg greater respectively, than individuals in the lowest activity quartile, who engaged in less than 5 min/wk of MVPA or took fewer than 460 steps/day.
  
  
  
  Despite engaging in physical activity levels far below current recommendations (150 min/week of MVPA or > 7000 steps/day), the most active older adults in this study exhibited clinically significant differences in physical function relative to their less active peers. While the direction of causality cannot be determined from this cross-sectional study, these findings suggest a strong association between PAL and physical function among older adults residing in an assisted care facility.
authors: Michael P. Corcoran, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, 01845. USA. Office: (978) 837-5584; Fax: (978) 837-5014; Email: corcoranm@merrimack.edu.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Corcoran
authors: K K H
authors: KK
authors: Chui
authors: D K
authors: DK
authors: White
authors: K F
authors: KF
authors: Reid
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Kirn
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Nelson
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Sacheck
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Folta
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Fielding
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D001900:Boston; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology