Get up and move: Independence and maneuverability related to regular exercise among noninstitutionalized elderly adults.

Heather SoltauCollege of Arts and Sciences, Honors College

Dr. James Swan, PhDDepartment of Applied Gerontology, College of Public Affairs and Community Service

Overview

The aging adult body goes through changes such as loss of muscle mass and range of motion.

With improvements in health care, more people are living longer lives.

Regular exercise could potentially slow the effects of aging and improve health.

National Health Interview Survey

Conducted annually by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Subject population is pooled from the noninstitutionalized adults in America.

Questions cover a range of topics from types of healthcare used and current health conditions.

Study Population

This study will focus on the adults aged 65 or older who completed this survey in 2001.

The total interview population is 33,326 adults.

6,146 cases of these were adults over the age of 65.

Variables

Frequency of moderate exercise strength training or vigorous exercise

Difficulty experienced when stand or sit for extended time period walk a certain distance lift, pull, or grasp objects

Comparison groups to look at

Age Less than 25 Grouped in 10 year intervals from 25-75 75+

Race Sex Marital status

Hypothesis

Older adults will exercise less than younger adults.

Older adults who exercise 5 or more times a week will be similar to younger adults who exercise 5 or more times a week in terms of their performance of activities of daily living (e.g. reaching over head, walking up steps,

standing extended periods, stooping, bending, or kneeling).

Methodology

Logistic regression will be used to compare the variables.

SAS software will be used to interpret the data.

Any possible confounding factors will be examined such as lifestyle and access to healthcare.

Physical Activity by Cohort

    Percentage Reporting Activity

   

Moderate five times per

week

Vigorous five times a week

Strengthening five times a week

Cohort:        

Youngest (post 1975)   31.40 18.04 9.95

Younger than Boomer (1966-1975)   25.24 15.38 6.44

Young Boomer (1956-1965)   25.88 13.02 5.74

Old Boomer (1946-1955)   25.81 13.06 5.67

Oldest Boomer (1936-1945)   25.24 10.80 4.73

Older than Boomer (1926-1935)   24.72 9.15 4.99

Oldest (pre 1926)   18.36 4.62 5.26

Any Moderate, Vigorous, or Strengthening Activity 5 to 7 Times a Week

  Odds Ratio with Upper and Lower Bounds

    With Controls   Without Some Controls

    Ratio Lower Upper   Ratio Lower Upper

Intercept   0.82 0.64 1.07   0.65 0.60 0.71

Independent Variables:                

Younger than Boomer (1966-1975)   0.88 0.76 1.01   0.73 0.66 0.82

Young Boomer (1956-1965)   1.27 1.11 1.45   0.98 0.90 1.07

Old Boomer (1946-1955)   1.34 1.18 1.52   1.05 0.97 1.14

Older-Than-Boomer (1936-1945)   1.25 1.09 1.43   0.92 0.83 1.02

Young Old (1926-1935)   1.39 1.17 1.66   1.01 0.88 1.15

Oldest Old (pre 1926)   0.89 0.74 1.06   0.65 0.56 0.74

Control Variables:                

African American   0.71 0.64 0.78        

Hispanic   0.61 0.55 0.68        

Age in 10 years   0.77 0.70 0.85        

Male   1.22 1.15 1.29        

Married   0.99 0.94 1.05        

At Least High School Degree   1.29 1.18 1.41        

At Least Some College   1.24 1.15 1.34        

At Least College Degree   1.08 1.00 1.16        

                 

Degrees of Freedom =   14   6

N =   32244   32605

Chi-Square =   756.74   209.28

Percentage of survey answers of adults who exercise 5 or more times per week

   

Reaching over head   Walk up 10 steps   Stand for 2 hours   Stoop/bend/kneel

Age  Less than

65 65 +  Less than

65 65 +  Less than

65 65 +  Less than

65 65 +

                         

Not at all difficult   34.12 30.78   34.82 35.25   34.70 35.35   34.22 33.96

Only a little difficult   24.77 23.19   23.80 21.30   30.83 27.73   35.71 31.01

Somewhat difficult   28.23 20.10   18.97 17.94   28.97 25.01   31.32 23.23

Very difficult   22.10 15.32   16.85 11.50   23.47 19.61   25.58 20.60

Can't do at all   14.74 14.26   10.14 11.06   16.13 13.43   15.73 14.69

Do not do this activity   12.96 7.06   13.93 10.74   24.84 16.25   18.92 9.76

Benefits of Project

If the project proves the hypothesis warrant more research on the topic prove that exercise can lead to a healthier

lifestyle trends found amongst age, race or sex

classifications could point out those in most need of exercise intervention

Dissemination Plan

Project will be submitted for publication in the 2007 edition of the Eagle Feather

The Great Plains Honors Council annual meeting April 2007

Acknowledgments

Dr. James Swan, Department of Applied Gerontology

Dr. Susan Eve, Department of Applied Gerontology, Honors College

Dr. Gloria Cox, Dean of Honors College

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