Investigation Of Huninghang Urban Senile Adl And Physical Exercise Status Quo

Objectives: To investigate the current status of "activity of daily life"(ADL), exercise capacity and physical activity, and examine the relationship among ADL, exercise capacity and physical exercise in the elderly in the city of Hu,Ning,Hang .Methods: A prevalence survey was conducted using a questionnaire in November to December, 2005. Total 1050 older adults aged 70 or older living in 8 Communities in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing were included in this study, and available answers retuned from 974 subjects. The measurements of exercise capacity were conducted in 438 subjects living in Nanjing. Results:1. The results of this study showed that, there was a decline trend in ADL, and limitations of movement of upper and lower limbs in the subjects investigated. Of those subjects. 22.4% need care from others for their daily life.2. In the study population, 58.7% participated in physical exercises regularly, and this rate was higher than that in the 65-69 group reported in a national survey. The older adults were likely to participate frequently in walking, running and Taichi, since they regarded those exercises fit for "their current physical situations". Square, residential district and home are main exercise places; ways for exercises are mainly "individual exercise" and "exercise with friends" with gender differences. "Physical fitness decline with age", "afraid of being illness and injured" and "no interests" were important factors affecting on the participation in physical exercise in the elderly.3. The exercise capacity decline with increased age. The performance of strength of grip, one leg stance, and chair stand test were related closely with age in both genders (r = 0.182～0.455, p <0.05).4. The subjects who have no difficulties in daily life showed significantly better performance in the measurements of exercise capacity and physical function, when compared with the subjects who have difficulties in daily life.5. The subjects who participated in physical exercise regularly showed significantly better performance in the measurements of exercise capacity and physical function, when compared with the subjects did not participated in physical exercise.Conclusions: In the study population, ADL and exercise capacity decline with increased age, although they have a higher rate of participation in physical exercise. To improve health and independency in daily life for the elderly, more researches were needed to conduct in the older population, especially in the people aged 70 or older.