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  • Title: Effect of physical activity on functional status among older middle-age adults with arthritis.
    Author: Feinglass J, Thompson JA, He XZ, Witt W, Chang RW, Baker DW.
    Journal: Arthritis Rheum; 2005 Dec 15; 53(6):879-85. PubMed ID: 16342096.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of leisure time and work-related physical activity on changes in physical functioning among 3,554 nationally representative survey respondents, ages 53-63 years in 1994, with arthritis and joint symptoms, interviewed in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). METHODS: In 1992-1994, light and vigorous exercise items were empirically categorized into recommended, insufficient, and inactive leisure time physical activity levels using data from the HRS. Leisure and work-related physical activity levels in 1994 were used to predict 1996 functional decline or improvement, controlling for baseline functional difficulties, health status, sociodemographic characteristics, and behavioral risk factors. RESULTS: Whereas 29.7% of respondents reported functional declines in 1996, 38.6% of those with baseline difficulties in 1994 reported improvement. Compared with inactive respondents, recommended and insufficient leisure time physical activity were equally protective against functional decline (odds ratio [OR] 0.59 and 0.62, respectively; P < 0.0001). Higher levels of physical activity were also modestly associated with functional improvement among respondents with baseline functional difficulties (OR 1.47, P = 0.05 and OR 1.45, P = 0.01, respectively). Work-related physical activity was not a significant predictor of decline or improvement. CONCLUSION: Given the high prevalence of arthritis, even modest increases in rates of lifestyle physical activity among older adults could make a substantial contribution to disability-free life expectancy.
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