Reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of leisure time physical activity

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of physical exercise. DESIGN: Community-based longitudinal study of free-living persons age 55 years or older in Sonoma, California. METHODS: Baseline standardized interviews were conducted (n = 2046) as part of a longitudinal study of aging and physical performance. Seventeen reasons for limitation or avoidance of physical activities were evaluated, with responses grouped as: no limitations, medical, non-medical, and combined medical and non-medical reasons. Patterns of physical activity and medical conditions and direct measures of physical function were evaluated in relation to reasons for activity limitation by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Women reported more limitations/avoidance of physical activity than men (81.0% vs 73.5%). Medical reasons increased with age. Reduced walking speed and depressive symptomatology were associated with a combination of medical and non-medical reasons in both sexes. Living arrangements were associated with non-medical reasons for women but were not for men. Non-medical reasons were associated with a 20 to 30% reduction in the number of subjects who reported physical activity at recommended levels. DISCUSSION: Non-medical factors are important determinants of activity limitation and should serve as targets for patient care providers and future interventions to improve participation in physical activity by older people.