HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brach, J. S Articles by VanSwearingen, J. M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brach, J. S Articles by VanSwearingen, J. M

Physical Impairment and Disability: Relationship to Performance of Activities of Daily Living in Community-Dwelling Older Men

JS Brach, PT, PhD, GCS, is Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
JM VanSwearingen, PT, PhD, is Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (USA) (jessievs{at}pitt.edu).

Address all correspondence to Dr VanSwearingen

Background and Purpose. The decline of physical function of older adults, associated with loss of independent living status, is a major public health concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of physical impairment and disability to performance of activities of daily living (ADL) among community-dwelling older adults. Subjects and Methods. Eighty-three community-dwelling older men who were referred to a comprehensive outpatient geriatric evaluation program (mean age=75.5 years, SD=7.0, range=64–97) were examined. Measurements of physical impairment (muscle force production, flexibility, and fitness) and physical disability (gait speed, stride length, risk for recurrent falls, and physical function) were recorded. Results. A stepwise linear regression was used to determine the relationship of physical impairments and disability measures with ADL. The results indicated that walking speed, fall risk, and muscle force contributed independently to the characterization of the activities of daily living of the community-dwelling older men studied (adjusted R²=.68; F=56.81; df=3,80; P<.001). Using a principal components factor analysis, 4 domains were identified that explained 68.2% of the variance in performance of ADL: (1) mobility/fall risk=26.5%, (2) coordination=15%, (3) fitness=14.7%, and (4) flexibility=12.0%. Discussion and Conclusion. The identification of domains of physical function may be useful to physical therapists in the development of interventions targeted for physical impairments and disabilities that contribute to deficits in performance of ADL. Targeting interventions for physical impairments and disabilities related to function may improve the effectiveness of physical therapist interventions and reduce the loss of independence among community-dwelling older people.

Key Words: Geriatrics • Physical function • Physical impairment and disability

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. B. O'Donnell, T. G. Travison, S. S. Harris, J. L. Tenover, and J. B. McKinlay Testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, and Physical Performance in Older Men: Results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2006; 91(2): 425 - 431. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y Laufer, R Zilberman, R Porat, and A M Nahir Effect of pulsed short-wave diathermy on pain and function of subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee: a placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial Clinical Rehabilitation, March 1, 2005; 19(3): 255 - 263. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. E. Morley Editorial. Mobility Performance: A High-Tech Test for Geriatricians J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2003; 58(8): M712 - 714. [Full Text] [PDF]