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Patterns of sedentary behavior and physical function in older adults

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Abstract

Background/aims

The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between various objectively measured sedentary behavior (SB) variables and physical function in older adults, examine the measurement properties of an SB questionnaire, and describe the domains of SB in our sample.

Methods

Forty-four older adults (70 ± 8 years, 64 % female) had their SB measured via activPAL activity monitor and SB questionnaire for 1 week followed by performance-based tests of physical function.

Results

The pattern of SB was more important than total SB time. Where a gender by SB interaction was found, increasing time in SB and fewer breaks were associated with worse function in the males only. The SB questionnaire had acceptable test–retest reliability but poor validity compared to activPAL-measured SB. The majority of SB time was spent watching television, using the computer and reading.

Discussion/conclusions

This study provides further evidence for the association between SB and physical function and describes where older adults are spending their sedentary time. This information can be used in the design of future intervention to reduce sedentary time and improve function in older adults.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. This work was supported by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education Virginia Horne Henry Committee Research Grant; and by the Coca-Cola Company Doctoral Student Grant on Behavior Research Fund from the American College of Sports Medicine Foundation.

Human and Animal Rights

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, 575C Warf Office Building, 610 Walnut ST, Madison, 53726, USA

    Keith P. Gennuso

  2. Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2057 Gymnasium-Natatorium, 2000 Observatory DR, Madison, 53706, USA

    Keith M. Thraen-Borowski

  3. Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 603 Warf Office Building, 610 Walnut ST, Madison, 53726, USA

    Ronald E. Gangnon

  4. Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 603 Warf Office Building, 610 Walnut ST, Madison, 53726, USA

    Ronald E. Gangnon

  5. Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2035 Gymnasium-Natatorium, 2000 Observatory DR, Madison, 53706, USA

    Lisa H. Colbert

Authors
  1. Keith P. Gennuso
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  2. Keith M. Thraen-Borowski
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  3. Ronald E. Gangnon
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  4. Lisa H. Colbert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keith P. Gennuso.

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Gennuso, K.P., Thraen-Borowski, K.M., Gangnon, R.E. et al. Patterns of sedentary behavior and physical function in older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 28, 943–950 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0386-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0386-4

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