Strenuous occupational physical activity increased mobility limitations in older adults

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Strenuous occupational physical activity increased mobility limitations in older adults

• April 28, 2014

Strenuous occupational physical activity in midlife increases the risk of limited mobility in older adults, whereas leisure time physical activity decreases the risk, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.Read more

“In long follow-up studies of older people it is necessary to take into account that some of the participants may die before the study ends. Only the healthiest and strongest participants are available for the follow-up assessments, which may lead to the underestimation of the age-related changes,” TainaRantanen, PhD, of the Gerontology Research Center and department of health sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland, stated in a press release. “A person doing heavy manual work may compensate for its detrimental effects by participating in brisk leisure-time physical activity. Mobility limitation is an important determinant of a person’s possibilities to participate in the society and to utilize community amenities.”

For more information:

Hinrichs T. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;doi:10.1111/jgs.12793.

Disclosure: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.