Citation

Field B, Cochrane T, Davey RC, Kinfu Y. J. Aging Phys. Act. 2016; 25(2): 269-276.

Affiliation

1 Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/japa.2016-0115

PMID

27705067

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify determinants of walking and whether walking maintained mobility among women as they transition from their mid-70s to their late 80s. We used 12 years of follow-up data (baseline 1999) from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (n=10,322). Fifteen determinants of walking were included in the analysis and three indicators of mobility. Longitudinal data analyses techniques were employed. Thirteen of the 15 determinants were significant predictors of walking. Women in their mid-70s who walked up to one hour per week were less likely to experience loss of mobility in very old age, including reduced likelihood of using a mobility aid. Hence, older women who do no walking should be encouraged to walk to maintain their mobility and their independence as they age, particularly women in their 70s and 80s who smoke, are overweight, have arthritis or who have had a recent fall.

Language: en