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Abstract
Objective: To study associations of motor disability, physical activity, and muscle strength
in older women, in particular to investigate whether model of spiraling decrease is
expressed in the data.
Design: Cross-sectional analysis using data from the base-line measurements of The Women's
Health and Aging Study (WHAS).
Setting: Participants' homes.
Participants: A total of 1,002 disabled women aged 65 years and older living in the community.
Outcome Measures: Motor disability was measured by the number of self-reported difficulties in grasping,
lifting 101b, walking across a small room, walking ![Math Eq]()
mile, climbing 10 steps, and doing heavy housework. Level of physical activity was
determined from response to a series of questions on the frequency and amount of common
activities and physical exercise. Hand grip and knee extension forces were measured
using portable hand-held dynamometers.
mile, climbing 10 steps, and doing heavy housework. Level of physical activity was
determined from response to a series of questions on the frequency and amount of common
activities and physical exercise. Hand grip and knee extension forces were measured
using portable hand-held dynamometers.Results: Disability and physical activity were inversely associated, with inactivity being
most common among the most disabled women. Those with poorer strength reported more
difficulties in motor activities. Greater strength was found among the physically
more active. In stratified analyses, the positive association of physical activity
on knee extension strength was consistent across disability levels. Multiple regression
analysis showed that both physical activity and muscle strength were significant predictors
for severity of disability. Structural equation model (LISREL) showed that muscle
strength had a mediating role between physical activity and disability; disability
was associated with physical inactivity, which correlated with lower muscle strength,
which was associated with greater degree of disability.
Conclusion: Even though causality cannot be confirmed in this cross-sectional analysis, our findings
suggested a spiraling model of decline in which muscle strength has a significant
role.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 26,
1998
Received:
June 1,
1998
Footnotes
☆No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 1999 Published by Elsevier Inc.
