BACKGROUND: Understanding interrelationships among disablement concepts is critical to the design of future disability treatment and prevention interventions. METHODS: This study uses cross-sectional data to examine the relationships among physiologic impairments, functional limitations, and disability in a moderately disabled sample of 207 community-dwelling older adults. RESULTS: As hypothesized, the data revealed statistically significant curvilinear relationships of upper and lower extremity strength and balance with mobility in this older sample. Multivariate analyses further clarified the hypothesized causal mechanism among the disablement concepts by demonstrating that most of the association of muscle strength and balance with disability was through the intermediary role of mobility limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study highlight the value of clinical trials that focus on prevention or treatment of mobility limitations as a means of preventing disability; our findings underscore the need for future research that examines the effects of other variables believed to influence disablement in late life.
BACKGROUND: Understanding interrelationships among disablement concepts is critical to the design of future disability treatment and prevention interventions. METHODS: This study uses cross-sectional data to examine the relationships among physiologic impairments, functional limitations, and disability in a moderately disabled sample of 207 community-dwelling older adults. RESULTS: As hypothesized, the data revealed statistically significant curvilinear relationships of upper and lower extremity strength and balance with mobility in this older sample. Multivariate analyses further clarified the hypothesized causal mechanism among the disablement concepts by demonstrating that most of the association of muscle strength and balance with disability was through the intermediary role of mobility limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study highlight the value of clinical trials that focus on prevention or treatment of mobility limitations as a means of preventing disability; our findings underscore the need for future research that examines the effects of other variables believed to influence disablement in late life.
Authors: Kenneth F Ferraro; Ya-Ping Su; Randall J Gretebeck; David R Black; Stephen F Badylak Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2002-05 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Anthony P Marsh; Michael E Miller; Aaron M Saikin; W Jack Rejeski; Nan Hu; Fulvio Lauretani; Stefania Bandinelli; Jack M Guralnik; Luigi Ferrucci Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2006-11 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Edward M Phillips; Jeffrey Katula; Michael E Miller; Michael P Walkup; Jennifer S Brach; Abby C King; W Jack Rejeski; Tim Church; Roger A Fielding Journal: J Aging Phys Act Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 1.961
Authors: Kenneth J Ottenbacher; Glenn V Ostir; M Kristen Peek; Soham Al Snih; Mukaila A Raji; Kyriakos S Markides Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Roger A Fielding; John Gunstad; Deborah R Gustafson; Steven B Heymsfield; John G Kral; Lenore J Launer; Josef Penninger; David I W Phillips; Nikolaos Scarmeas Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2013-05-17 Impact factor: 5.691