Physical function and activity among older adults in Jodhpur, India

AbstractBackground: Physical activity impacts the ageing process; yet, few studies have examined relationships among physical activity, functional abilities and health among older adults in non-Western settings.Aim: This study tests for associations among measures of physical activity, function and self-report health conditions among 200 older adults (49--50 years old) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.Methods: Seven consecutive days of accelerometry data were used in measures of physical activity (Total Daily Energy Expenditure [TDEE], Physical Activity Level [PAL], Daily Average Activity Count [AC] and Activity Energy Expenditure [AEE]). Measures of physical function included grip strength, timed walk and daily average sit time. Participants reported if they had been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and/or depression.Results: All four measures of physical activity were positively associated with grip strength (p ≤ 0.05). AC was negatively associated with timed walk (p ≤ 0.05), and both AC and...