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Is sitting time leading to mobility decline in long-term care residents?

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the sitting time in long-term care (LTC) facilities, or if sedentary behaviour affects changes in mobility over time.

Aims

The objectives were to document the sitting time of LTC residents and to examine if sitting time could predict changes in mobility.

Methods

Twenty residents of an LTC facility, representing three mobility statuses (independent, assisted transfer, and dependent transfer) were included. Sitting time was defined using an ActivPAL. Mobility statuses were reviewed 12 months later.

Results

Participants spent an average of 21.9 h per day sedentary. At follow-up, five residents experienced a decline in mobility status, but no baseline sitting time variables were associated with the changes in mobility status (P > 0.05).

Discussion/conclusion

People living in LTC are highly sedentary. Sitting time differs amongst the mobility statues, but is unable to predict upcoming changes in mobility status.

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Acknowledgements

Local long-term care center participated in the study as well as their staff and residents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiometabolic Exercise and Lifestyle Laboratory, Fredericton, NB, Canada

    A. M. Lee, M. Sénéchal, T. J. Hrubeniuk & D. R. Bouchard

  2. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, 90 Mackay Drive, (Room 322), Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada

    A. M. Lee, M. Sénéchal & D. R. Bouchard

  3. Interdisciplinary Studies, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada

    T. J. Hrubeniuk

Authors
  1. A. M. Lee
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  2. M. Sénéchal
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  3. T. J. Hrubeniuk
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  4. D. R. Bouchard
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Contributions

LA BSc: acquisition of subjects and data, and preparation of manuscript. SM PhD: analysis and interpretation of data, and preparation of manuscript. HTJ MSc: analysis and interpretation of data, and preparation of manuscript. BDR PhD: study concept and design, analysis and interpretation of data, and preparation of manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. R. Bouchard.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Lee, A.M., Sénéchal, M., Hrubeniuk, T.J. et al. Is sitting time leading to mobility decline in long-term care residents?. Aging Clin Exp Res 32, 183–186 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01148-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01148-z

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