Determinants of four functional tasks among older adults: an exploratory regression analysis

• Published in: The journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 144 - 153
• Main Authors: Topp, R, Mikesky, A, Thompson, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1998
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aging - physiology; Arthralgia - physiopathology; Biomechanical Phenomena; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Pain Measurement; Postural Balance; Posture - physiology; Predictive Value of Tests; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results
• ISSN: 0190-6011; 1938-1344
• DOI: 10.2519/jospt.1998.27.2.144

Functional ability declines in later life. The purpose of this project was to determine if strength, postural control, and joint pain predict performance of four functional tasks among older adults. A sample of 28 older adults completed assessments of strength, postural control, joint pain, and four functional tasks. The duration to complete the functional tasks of: 1) getting out of bed, going to a chair, and then returning to bed; 2) crossing a street and getting onto a bus; 3) exiting the passenger side of a car; and 4) climbing a flight of 27 stairs was recorded. Step-wise regression equations indicated that seated row strength and dynamic postural control were significant predictors of all of the tasks and accounted for the largest proportion of the variance in each equation. These results indicate that measures of physical fitness may be more important predictors of functional tasks among older adults than chronological age.