Low-intensity walking activity is associated with better health

Abstract

Recommended levels of physical activity may represent challenging targets for many older adults at risk for disability, leading to the importance of evaluating whether low-intensity activity is associated with health benefits. We examined the cross-sectional association between low-intensity walking activity (<100 steps/min) and health and physical function in a group of older adults. Participants (N = 187; age = 66.8; 91.4% African American; 76.5% female) wore a StepWatch Activity Monitor to measure components of low-intensity walking activity. Only 7% of participants met physical activity guidelines and moderate-intensity activity (≥100 steps/min) contributed only 10% of the total steps/day and 2% of the total min/day. Greater amount, frequency, and duration of low-intensity activity were associated with better self-report and performance-based measures of physical function, better quality of life, and fewer depressive symptoms (ps < .05). The cross-sectional relationship between low-intensity activity and health outcomes important to independent function suggests that we further explore the longitudinal benefits of low-intensity activity.

Keywords: African Americans; low-intensity activity; mobility; physical activity; walking.

Figure 1

Low-intensity activity metrics

Figure 2

Distribution of average number of minutes/day of activity by intensity (n=187) Moderate-intensity walking activity contributed to 9.9% of total steps/day and 2.1% of total minutes of activity/day Note. Low-intensity activity (<100 steps/min); Moderate to vigorous-intensity activity (≥ 100 steps/min)