TY - JOUR PY - 1996// TI - The effect of walking on lower body disability among older blacks and whites JO - American journal of public health A1 - Clark, D. O. SP - 57 EP - 61 VL - 86 IS - 1 N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between regular physical activity and risk of or increase in lower body disability in older, community dwelling Blacks and Whites. METHODS: The present study used the 1984 to 1990 Longitudinal Study on Aging, which included 413 Black and 3428 White self-respondents 70 years of age or older. Discrete-time hazard models provided estimates of the effects of self-reported walking frequency, and regular exercise on lower, body disability among Black and White self-respondents. RESULTS: Whites who reported walking 4 to 7 days per week at baseline vs those who reported never walking 1 mile (1.6 km) or more experienced a one-third lower risk of increased disability. Blacks who reported walking 4 to 7 days per week experienced a two-thirds lower risk. Walking 4 to 7 days per week reduced the risk of disability onset by 50% to 80% on all five disability items within the Black sample and by 50% on two items within the White sample. CONCLUSIONS: Among older Blacks, walking 4 to 7 days per week had a greater protective effect against lower body decline than any of the other factors, including age and chronic conditions.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0090-0036 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -