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Review
. 2020 Sep 15:11:881.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00881. eCollection 2020.

Mobility in Older Community-Dwelling Persons: A Narrative Review

Ellen Freiberger  1 , Cornel Christian Sieber  1 , Robert Kob  1
Affiliations
Review

Mobility in Older Community-Dwelling Persons: A Narrative Review

Ellen Freiberger et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

Due to the demographic changes and the increasing awareness of the role of physical function, mobility in older age is becoming an important topic. Mobility limitations have been reported as increasingly prevalent in older persons affecting about 35% of persons aged 70 and the majority of persons over 85 years. Mobility limitations have been associated with increased fall risk, hospitalization, a decreased quality of life, and even mortality. As concepts of mobility are multifactorial and complex, in this narrative review, definitions, physical factors, and their age-related changes associated with mobility will be presented. Also, areas of cognitive decline and their impact on mobility, as well as neuromuscular factors related to mobility will be addressed. Another section will relate psychological factors such as Fall-related psychological concerns and sedentary behavior to mobility. Assessment of mobility as well as effective exercise interventions are only shortly addressed. In the last part, gaps and future work on mobility in older persons are discussed.

Keywords: community-dwelling; gait; mobility; narrative review; older person; risk factors.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Age-related physiological changes with regard to mobility in older community-dwelling Persons.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Interaction of risk factors for mobility limitation in older community-dwelling persons.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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