Physical Limitations, Walkability, Perceived Environmental Facilitators and Physical Activity of Older Adults in Finland
Portegijs, E., Keskinen, K. E., Tsai, L.-T., Rantanen, T., & Rantakokko, M. (2017). Physical Limitations, Walkability, Perceived Environmental Facilitators and Physical Activity of Older Adults in Finland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), Article 333. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030333
Date
2017Discipline
Gerontologia ja kansanterveysGerontologian tutkimuskeskusHyvinvoinnin tutkimuksen yhteisöGerontology and Public HealthGerontology Research CenterSchool of WellbeingCopyright
© the Authors, 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
The aim was to study objectively assessed walkability of the environment and participant
perceived environmental facilitators for outdoor mobility as predictors of physical activity in
older adults with and without physical limitations. 75–90-year-old adults living independently
in Central Finland were interviewed (n = 839) and reassessed for self-reported physical activity one
or two years later (n = 787). Lower-extremity physical limitations were defined as Short Physical
Performance Battery score ≤9. Number of perceived environmental facilitators was calculated from
a 16-item checklist. Walkability index (land use mix, street connectivity, population density) of
the home environment was calculated from geographic information and categorized into tertiles.
Accelerometer-based step counts were registered for one week (n = 174). Better walkability was
associated with higher numbers of perceived environmental facilitators (p < 0.001) and higher
physical activity (self-reported p = 0.021, step count p = 0.010). Especially among those with physical
limitations, reporting more environmental facilitators was associated with higher odds for reporting at
least moderate physical activity (p < 0.001), but not step counts. Perceived environmental facilitators
only predicted self-reported physical activity at follow-up. To conclude, high walkability of the
living environment provides opportunities for physical activity in old age, but among those with
physical limitations especially, awareness of environmental facilitators may be needed to promote
physical activity.
...
Publisher
MDPIISSN Search the Publication Forum
1661-7827Keywords
Dataset(s) related to the publication
https://doi.org/10.17011/jyx/dataset/77740Portegijs, Erja; Keskinen, Kirsi. (2021). Geographic characteristics, outdoor mobility and physical activity in old age (GEOage). V. 5.5.2021. University of Jyväskylä. https://doi.org/10.17011/jyx/dataset/77740. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202109104844
Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/26926820
Metadata
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- Liikuntatieteiden tiedekunta [2919]
Related funder(s)
Research Council of Finland; Ministry of Education and CultureFunding program(s)
Postdoctoral Researcher, AoF; OthersAdditional information about funding
We thank the participants for their time and effort to participate in our study. This work was financially supported by grants of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (to E.P. and M.R.); and the Academy of Finland [grant no 255403 (to T.R.), no 285747 (to M.R.)]. Gerontology Research Center is a joint effort between the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Tampere.License
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as © the Authors, 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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