Functional Fitness Is Equally Maintained in Socially Active and Conventionally Trained Older Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background/objective: Social engagement may help preserve functional fitness (FF) throughout aging, but comparative studies are scarce. We compared FF in older women classified as socially active (SAC) versus exercise-trained (EXE) and insufficiently active (SED).

Methods: Participants in SAC engaged in social activities requiring physical effort 3+ days/week (n = 52; 69 ± 1 years); EXE performed physical training 3+ days/week for at least 3 months (n = 70; 68 ± 1 years); and SED comprised institutionalized women, sedentary for 7-8 hr/day (n = 43; 78 ± 2 years). FF tests included handgrip, sit-to-stand, timed-up-and-go, habitual and maximum walking speed, static and dynamic balance.

Results: SAC and EXE performed light-to-moderate physical activity +150 min/week, while SED spent 10-12 hr/day sitting or in bed. FF performance was 10%-50% lower in SED versus SAC and EXE (p < .05). Sit-to-stand failure rates were 14% in SED, 5% in SAC, and 3% in EXE. Timed-up-and-go test and maximum walking speed indicative of "high disability risk" were more predominant (p < .05) in SED (79% and 43%) versus SAC (42% and 4%), and EXE (21% and 0%). Only 5% of SED completed static balance versus 73% of SAC and 70% of EXE. Dynamic balance deficits were severe in 95% of SED versus 21% of SAC and 17% of EXE.

Conclusion: Older women with high social involvement had FF comparable to those engaged in exercise training, and both outperformed insufficiently active counterparts.

Implications: Social activities requiring a moderate level of physical effort seem to preserve the FF of older women, which should be considered within interventions to improve FF throughout aging.