Reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of leisure time physical activity

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates reasons given by older people for limit ation or avoidance of physical exercise. DESIGN: Community-based longitudinal study of free-living persons age 55 ye ars or older in Sonoma, California. METHODS: Baseline standardized interviews were conducted (n = 2046) as part of a longitudinal study of aging and physical performance. Seventeen reaso ns for limitation or avoidance of physical activities were evaluated, with responses grouped as: no limitations, medical, non-medical, and combined me dical and non-medical reasons. Patterns of physical activity and medical co nditions and direct measures of physical function were evaluated in relatio n to reasons for activity limitation by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Women reported more limitations/avoidance of physical activity tha n men (81.0% vs 73.5%). Medical reasons increased with age. Reduced walking speed and depressive symptomatology were associated with a combination of medical and non-medical reasons in both sexes. Living arrangements were ass ociated with non-medical reasons for women but were not for men. Non-medica l reasons were associated with a 20 to 30% reduction in the number of subje cts who reported physical activity at recommended levels. DISCUSSION: Non-medical factors are important determinants of activity limi tation and should serve as targets for patient care providers and future in terventions to improve participation in physical activity by older people.