Characterising life-space mobility and its relationship to physical capacity and outdoor walking in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors: a secondary data analysis.

PURPOSE: To describe life-space mobility (LSM) and its relationship with physical capacity (PC) (walking endurance, walking speed, leg strength, balance), and outdoor walking in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of baseline data from 173 adults aged ≥ 65 years with mobility limitations in the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) study was conducted. LSM was measured using the Life-space Assessment (LSA), and PC was assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 10-meter walk test (10mWT) at a comfortable and fast pace, 30-second sit-to-stand (30sSTS), and mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest). The relationship between scores on PC measures and outdoor walking time, assessed by the CHAMPS-OUTDOORS questionnaire, and LSA score, was examined using Spearman correlations and backward stepwise regression modelling, adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS

Mean LSA score was 64.6 ± 20.2. Scores on each study measure had a fair and positive correlation (p < 0.01) with LSA score: 6MWT (ρ = 0.42), 10mWT (ρ = 0.44, 0.45), 30sSTS (ρ = 0.43), mini-BESTest (ρ = 0.43), and CHAMPS-OUTDOORS (ρ = 0.28). The final regression model, including 10mWT, 30sSTS, mini-BESTest, explained 31% of LSA score variance.

CONCLUSION

PC and outdoor walking time relate to LSM in community-dwelling older adults with difficulty walking outdoors, though outdoor walking time has a weaker correlation with LSM.