Relationship between Balance, Functional Fitness, and Daily Physical Activity in Older Adults

Considering the importance of balance, functional fitness (FF), and daily physical activity (DPA) in old age, the relationship between balance, FF, and DPA in fifty-six volunteers aged 70.2 ± 5.2 years was determined in this cross sectional study. Static and dynamic balance was evaluated by single stance, and functional reach tests respectively, whereas FF was determined by muscular strength, muscular power, agility, trunk flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) tests. DPA was measured objectively (accelerometer) and subjectively (record book) over a 2-wk period. No significant gender difference was noted in balance, agility, daily step rate, and household work. Men showed higher levels of muscular strength, muscular power, CRF, exercise energy expenditure (accelerometer), and leisure time physical activity (record book), .whereas women had higher trunk flexibility. Static balance correlated positively with three FF variables and four DPA variables in men, two FF variables and six DPA variables in women, and negatively with one fitness variable in men. Dynamic balance correlated positively with two FF variables in men and one in women, and negatively with one FF variable in women. These results indicate that balance is correlated with FF, however, it is not always correlated with DPA in older adults. Consequently, activities that challenge balance controlling systems should be incorporated more in DPA in old age.