BACKGROUND: Because the number of elderly people is rapidly increasing, reference values for the physical abilities necessary to independently conduct daily activities are crucial for promoting good health. Although a few studies have reported reference values for functional tests relating to these abilities, all of those values were derived from populations in developed countries, which have baseline demographic and anthropometric characteristics different from those of Thai people. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe reference values for 5 physical performance tests for Thai elderly people who were functioning well and dwelling in the community. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. METHODS: A total of 1,030 Thai elderly people who were functioning well were cross-sectionally assessed for their physical abilities with 5 functional tests: 10-Meter Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed "Up & Go" Test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test, and Six-Minute Walk Test. The data were reported with descriptive statistics according to decade of age and sex. Differences among the age decades and between the sexes were analyzed with a 1-way analysis of variance and an independent-sample t test, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine baseline characteristics important in functional abilities. RESULTS: Most of the values found for the performance-based measures were lower than those previously reported, with a significant trend toward age- and sex-related functional decline. Weight and height were important contributors to level of functional ability. LIMITATIONS: Only a few elderly individuals older than 90 years of age participated in this study. Therefore, their findings were combined with those of participants aged 80 to 89 years. CONCLUSIONS: The findings described here may be useful as reference values for 5 physical performance tests for Thai elderly people. Health practitioners can use this information to identify functional impairments early and to promote independence in Thai and other elderly populations with similar anthropometric characteristics, such as those in the Association of South East Asian Nations.
BACKGROUND: Because the number of elderly people is rapidly increasing, reference values for the physical abilities necessary to independently conduct daily activities are crucial for promoting good health. Although a few studies have reported reference values for functional tests relating to these abilities, all of those values were derived from populations in developed countries, which have baseline demographic and anthropometric characteristics different from those of Thai people. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe reference values for 5 physical performance tests for Thai elderly people who were functioning well and dwelling in the community. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. METHODS: A total of 1,030 Thai elderly people who were functioning well were cross-sectionally assessed for their physical abilities with 5 functional tests: 10-Meter Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed "Up & Go" Test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test, and Six-Minute Walk Test. The data were reported with descriptive statistics according to decade of age and sex. Differences among the age decades and between the sexes were analyzed with a 1-way analysis of variance and an independent-sample t test, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine baseline characteristics important in functional abilities. RESULTS: Most of the values found for the performance-based measures were lower than those previously reported, with a significant trend toward age- and sex-related functional decline. Weight and height were important contributors to level of functional ability. LIMITATIONS: Only a few elderly individuals older than 90 years of age participated in this study. Therefore, their findings were combined with those of participants aged 80 to 89 years. CONCLUSIONS: The findings described here may be useful as reference values for 5 physical performance tests for Thai elderly people. Health practitioners can use this information to identify functional impairments early and to promote independence in Thai and other elderly populations with similar anthropometric characteristics, such as those in the Association of South East Asian Nations.
Authors: Megan Huisingh-Scheetz; Brian Buta; Karen Bandeen-Roche; Elbert S Huang; Ravi Varadhan; Jeremy Walston; Kristen Wroblewski; L Philip Schumm; Linda J Waite Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2021-12-17 Impact factor: 4.942
Authors: Vicent Benavent Caballer; Juan Francisco Lisón; Pedro Rosado-Calatayud; Juan José Amer-Cuenca; Eva Segura-Orti Journal: J Phys Ther Sci Date: 2015-11-30
Authors: Val Mikos; Shih-Cheng Yen; Arthur Tay; Chun-Huat Heng; Chloe Lau Ha Chung; Sylvia Hui Xin Liew; Dawn May Leng Tan; Wing Lok Au Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-06-18 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Robinson Ramírez-Vélez; Miguel A Pérez-Sousa; Luis C Venegas-Sanabria; Carlos A Cano-Gutierrez; Paula A Hernández-Quiñonez; David Rincón-Pabón; Antonio García-Hermoso; Fabricio Zambom-Ferraresi; Mikel L Sáez de Asteasu; Mikel Izquierdo Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2020-02-20
Authors: Frances Rom Lunar; Jan Paul Marquez; Francine Kier Quianzon; Ben Joshua Policarpio; Leslie Anne Santelices; Mariah Kristine Velasco; Ramielle Joie Quinto; Edward James Gorgon Journal: Hong Kong Physiother J Date: 2018-12-11