A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Daily physical activity patterns and their association with health-related physical fitness among aging workers - the Finnish Retirement and Aging study




AuthorsStenholm Sari, Pulakka Anna, Leskinen Tuija, Pentti Jaana, Heinonen Olli J, Koster Annemarie, Vahtera Jussi

PublisherOxford University Press

Publication year2021

JournalJournals of Gerontology, Series A

Journal name in sourceThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences

Journal acronymJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci

Volume76

Issue7

First page 1242

Last page1250

ISSN1079-5006

eISSN1758-535X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa193

Web address https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/76/7/1242/5885006

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/Publication/51251550


Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify accelerometer measured daily physical activity patterns, and to examine how they associate with health-related physical fitness among aging workers.

Methods: The study population consisted of 263 participants (mean age 62.4 years, SD 1.0) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study, who used wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometer for at least one week including both workdays and days off. Health-related physical fitness measures included body composition (waist circumference, bioimpedance), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (bicycle ergometer test) and muscular fitness (push-up and chair rise tests).

Results: Based on the latent class trajectory analysis, six trajectories were identified for workdays showing variation in activity level on working hours and on evening hours. Moderate activity during working hours and increase of activity level in the evening was associated with the most favorable health-related fitness in comparison to low activity throughout the workday: waist circumference 90.0 cm (95% CI 85.5-94.5) vs. 99.5 cm (95% CI 96.8-102.3), fat mass 13.9 kg (9.3-18.5) vs. 23.8 kg (20.2-27.4), CRF 33.4 ml/kg/min (95% CI 31.4-35.3) vs. 29.1 ml/kg/min (95% CI 27.8-30.3) (adjusted for age, sex, days off activity, smoking and alcohol). For the days off, two different trajectories were identified, but they differed only in terms of level and not by timing of physical activity.

Conclusions: A large variation in the workday physical activity patterns was observed among aging workers. Independent of worktime activity, people who were more active in the evenings had more favorable health-related physical fitness than those who were less active throughout the day.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 10:21