TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - Walking up to one hour per week maintains mobility as older women age: findings from an Australian longitudinal study JO - Journal of aging and physical activity A1 - Field, Bonnie A1 - Cochrane, Tom A1 - Davey, Rachel C. A1 - Kinfu, Yohannes SP - 269 EP - 276 VL - 25 IS - 2 N2 - 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
LA - en SN - 1063-8652 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/japa.2016-0115 ID - ref1 ER -