Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between movement competency and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults aged 55 to 75 years. Seventy-eight, male (40) and female (38), subjects completed the study. Their mean (SD) age, height, and mass were 64.9 (5.8) years and 63.6 (4.9) years, 1.8 (.08) m and 1.7 (.07) m, 82.6 (11.8) kg and 70.3 (17.9) kg, for male and female, respectively. Subjects completed several tests in 3 categories: movement competency (Functional Movement Screen^TM [FMS] [all 7 tests], sitting-rising test [SRT]); physical activity level (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly [PASE]); and health related quality of life [HRQOL] (SF-36v2). A linear regression model was then developed to examine the relationship of a number of variables to quality of life. The strongest relationship to HRQOL was the FMS, with a positive correlation of 0.474 which is highly significant (p < 0.0001). Once the FMS score was accounted for, no other terms in the regression model were significant. The correlation between our two assessments of movement competency, the FMS and SRT was 0.644 which is highly significant (p < 0.0001). Our primary hypothesis was supported that those with better movement competency have a better health related quality of life. Our results suggest further research should be undertaken to see if properly administered individualized corrective therapeutic exercise programs could improve older adults' movement competency and thereby improve their quality of life.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Exercise Sciences

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