Physical activity types among US adults with mobility disability, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017.
NaTasha D Hollis, Qing C Zhang, Alissa C Cyrus and 3 others
PMID 32061542WHAT IT FOUND
Walking was the most common activity among US adults with mobility disability, reported by 34.0%.
Nearly 60% were inactive. Those who walked were more likely to meet aerobic guidelines, while those doing other exercises were more likely to meet muscle-strengthening guidelines.
Key findings
01Walking was the most common physical activity category reported by adults with mobility disability (34.0%), followed by conditioning exercises (8.6%), lawn and garden (7.3%), and home activities (3.2%).
0254.8% of adults with mobility disability engaged in no aerobic physical activity.
03Adults who reported walking were more likely to meet the aerobic guideline (46.1%) compared to those reporting other physical activities (30.8%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Data is self-reported and subject to recall and social desirability bias. The survey only includes community-dwelling adults, excluding those in nursing homes who may have higher disability rates. Mobility disability was defined broadly as 'serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs', missing those with mild/moderate difficulties or specific underlying conditions. Cross-sectional design means causality cannot be inferred; we do not know if activity levels cause better health or vice versa.
Declared interests
The BRFSS protocol was approved by the CDC IRB. No specific funding conflicts or author declarations were detailed in the provided text beyond the standard government survey approval.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that adults with mobility disability who exercise are meeting all health guidelines. Many who perform muscle-strengthening activities are aerobically inactive, and over 60% meet neither aerobic nor strengthening guidelines.