Do Inactive Older Adults Who Increase Physical Activity Experience Less Disability: Evidence From the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Authors

Jing Song, Northwestern University
Abigail L. GilbertFollow
Rowland W. ChangFollow
Christine A. Pellegrini, University of South CarolinaFollow
Linda S. Ehrlich-Jones, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Jungwha Lee, Northwestern University
Daniel Pinto, Marquette UniversityFollow
Pamela A. Semanik, Rush UniversityFollow
Leena SharmaFollow
C. Kent Kwoh
Rebecca D. Jackson
Dorothy D. Dunlop, Northwestern University

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

1-2017

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer

Source Publication

JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology

Source ISSN

1076-1608

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for developing disability. Although randomized clinical trials have demonstrated improving physical activity can reduce this risk in older adults with arthritis, these studies did not specifically evaluate inactive adults.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of changes in physical activity with disability changes among initially inactive adults with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis from Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Methods: Inactive persons were identified at baseline based on the US Department of Health and Human Services classification (no [zero] 10-minute session of moderate-to-vigorous [MV] activity over 1 week) from objective accelerometer monitoring. Two years later, physical activity change status was classified as follows: (1) met Federal physical activity guidelines (>=150 MV minutes/week acquired in bouts >=10 minutes), (2) insufficiently increased activity (some but <150 MV bout minutes/week), or (3) remained inactive. Disability at baseline and 2 years was assessed by Late Life Disability Instrument limitation and frequency scores. Multiple regression evaluated the relationship of physical activity change status with baseline-to-2-year changes in disability scores adjusting for socioeconomics, health factors, and baseline disability score.

Results: Increased physical activity showed a graded relationship with improved disability scores in Late Life Disability Instrument limitation (P < 0.001) and frequency scores (P = 0.027). While increasing MV activity to guideline levels showed the greatest reduction, even insufficiently increased physical activity was related to reduced disability.

Conclusions: Findings support advice to increase MV physical activity to reduce disability among inactive adults with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis, even when guidelines are not met.

Comments

JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. Vol. 23, No. 1 (January 2017): 26-32, DOI.

Recommended Citation

Song, Jing; Gilbert, Abigail L.; Chang, Rowland W.; Pellegrini, Christine A.; Ehrlich-Jones, Linda S.; Lee, Jungwha; Pinto, Daniel; Semanik, Pamela A.; Sharma, Leena; Kwoh, C. Kent; Jackson, Rebecca D.; and Dunlop, Dorothy D., "Do Inactive Older Adults Who Increase Physical Activity Experience Less Disability: Evidence From the Osteoarthritis Initiative" (2017). Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications. 150.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/phys_therapy_fac/150