Fitness Standards for Physical Independence in Later Years
Fitness Standards for Physical Independence in Later Years
Purpose: To develop and validate criterion-referenced fitness standards for older adults that predict the level of capacity needed for maintaining physical independence into later life. The proposed standards were developed for use with a previously validated test battery for older adults—the Senior Fitness Test (Rikli, R. E., & Jones, C. J. (2001). Development and validation of a functional fitness test for community-residing older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 6, 127–159; Rikli, R. E., & Jones, C. J. (1999a). Senior fitness test manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.).
Methods: A criterion measure to assess physical independence was identified. Next, scores from a subset of 2,140 "moderate-functioning" older adults from a larger cross-sectional database, together with findings from longitudinal research on physical capacity and aging, were used as the basis for proposing fitness standards (performance cut points) associated with having the ability to function independently. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted to test the standards for their accuracy and consistency as predictors of physical independence.
Results: Performance standards are presented for men and women ages 60–94 indicating the level of fitness associated with remaining physically independent until late in life. Reliability and validity indicators for the standards ranged between .79 and .97.
Implications: The proposed standards provide easy-to-use, previously unavailable methods for evaluating physical capacity in older adults relative to that associated with physical independence. Most importantly, the standards can be used in planning interventions that target specific areas of weakness, thus reducing risk for premature loss of mobility and independence.
With the projected increase in the number and percentage of older adults throughout much of the world, it is critical for both economic and personal reasons that this large segment of the population remains healthy and independent for as long as possible. A key factor in preserving mobility and independence in later years is maintaining the fitness capacity (e.g., strength, endurance, agility, and balance) needed to perform normal everyday activities—to do simple housework, climb steps, lift and carry objects, get in and out of chairs or transportation vehicles, and walk far enough in and around stores, buildings, and parking lots to do one's own shopping and errands (Macaluso & De Vito, 2004; Morey, Pieper, & Cornoni-Huntley, 1998; Paterson & Warburton, 2010).
Unfortunately, limited information is available regarding the fitness level needed for maintaining physical independence. The few studies published regarding threshold requirements for independent living primarily have involved laboratory-based measures, such as maximum oxygen uptake, peak oxygen consumption, or maximum muscle torque (Cress & Meyer, 2003; Fleg et al., 2005; Goodpaster et al., 2006), measures that provide important information for the scientific community but which are not well understood or easily interpreted by most health professionals, program leaders, or by older adults themselves.
The purpose of this research was to establish reliable and valid criterion fitness standards (performance cut points) for five items in a previously validated easy-to-use field test of functional fitness for older adults—the Senior Fitness Test (SFT; Rikli & Jones, 1999a, 2001, in press), standards that indicate the strength, endurance, agility, and dynamic balance associated with maintaining physical independence into later life. Criterion standards are not being proposed at this time for two flexibility items on the SFT as there is insufficient evidence documenting the relationship between measures of flexibility and improved functional ability (Fiatarone Singh, 2002; Paterson, Jones, & Rice, 2007).
To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to develop criterion standards for a comprehensive fitness test battery for older adults, standards that address the key physiological variables needed for independent functioning. Although mobility and physical independence can be attained in a variety of ways (through use of assistive technologies, public transportation, etc.) and is influenced by multiple factors—cognitive, psychosocial, physical, environmental, and financial (Webber, Porter, & Menec, 2010), the focus of this research is on physiological capacity. Specifically, physical independence is defined as having the physical capacity needed to perform common everyday activities on one's own without additional assistance, activities such as simple housework, lifting and carrying objects, negotiating steps, and walking far enough to do one's own shopping and errands.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Purpose: To develop and validate criterion-referenced fitness standards for older adults that predict the level of capacity needed for maintaining physical independence into later life. The proposed standards were developed for use with a previously validated test battery for older adults—the Senior Fitness Test (Rikli, R. E., & Jones, C. J. (2001). Development and validation of a functional fitness test for community-residing older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 6, 127–159; Rikli, R. E., & Jones, C. J. (1999a). Senior fitness test manual. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.).
Methods: A criterion measure to assess physical independence was identified. Next, scores from a subset of 2,140 "moderate-functioning" older adults from a larger cross-sectional database, together with findings from longitudinal research on physical capacity and aging, were used as the basis for proposing fitness standards (performance cut points) associated with having the ability to function independently. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted to test the standards for their accuracy and consistency as predictors of physical independence.
Results: Performance standards are presented for men and women ages 60–94 indicating the level of fitness associated with remaining physically independent until late in life. Reliability and validity indicators for the standards ranged between .79 and .97.
Implications: The proposed standards provide easy-to-use, previously unavailable methods for evaluating physical capacity in older adults relative to that associated with physical independence. Most importantly, the standards can be used in planning interventions that target specific areas of weakness, thus reducing risk for premature loss of mobility and independence.
Introduction
With the projected increase in the number and percentage of older adults throughout much of the world, it is critical for both economic and personal reasons that this large segment of the population remains healthy and independent for as long as possible. A key factor in preserving mobility and independence in later years is maintaining the fitness capacity (e.g., strength, endurance, agility, and balance) needed to perform normal everyday activities—to do simple housework, climb steps, lift and carry objects, get in and out of chairs or transportation vehicles, and walk far enough in and around stores, buildings, and parking lots to do one's own shopping and errands (Macaluso & De Vito, 2004; Morey, Pieper, & Cornoni-Huntley, 1998; Paterson & Warburton, 2010).
Unfortunately, limited information is available regarding the fitness level needed for maintaining physical independence. The few studies published regarding threshold requirements for independent living primarily have involved laboratory-based measures, such as maximum oxygen uptake, peak oxygen consumption, or maximum muscle torque (Cress & Meyer, 2003; Fleg et al., 2005; Goodpaster et al., 2006), measures that provide important information for the scientific community but which are not well understood or easily interpreted by most health professionals, program leaders, or by older adults themselves.
The purpose of this research was to establish reliable and valid criterion fitness standards (performance cut points) for five items in a previously validated easy-to-use field test of functional fitness for older adults—the Senior Fitness Test (SFT; Rikli & Jones, 1999a, 2001, in press), standards that indicate the strength, endurance, agility, and dynamic balance associated with maintaining physical independence into later life. Criterion standards are not being proposed at this time for two flexibility items on the SFT as there is insufficient evidence documenting the relationship between measures of flexibility and improved functional ability (Fiatarone Singh, 2002; Paterson, Jones, & Rice, 2007).
To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to develop criterion standards for a comprehensive fitness test battery for older adults, standards that address the key physiological variables needed for independent functioning. Although mobility and physical independence can be attained in a variety of ways (through use of assistive technologies, public transportation, etc.) and is influenced by multiple factors—cognitive, psychosocial, physical, environmental, and financial (Webber, Porter, & Menec, 2010), the focus of this research is on physiological capacity. Specifically, physical independence is defined as having the physical capacity needed to perform common everyday activities on one's own without additional assistance, activities such as simple housework, lifting and carrying objects, negotiating steps, and walking far enough to do one's own shopping and errands.
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