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Document Type

Article

Keywords

functional fitness, comparison, Shandong, older adults

Publication Date

1-13-2025

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the functional fitness (FF) of the community dwelling older adults in Shan Dong (SD) of mainland China with their peers in Hong Kong (HK). Methods: 1887 older adults living in SD were measured with Senior Fitness Test (SFT) One sample T test was used to determine the age grooup difference in each FF component between the population of SD and HK. Results: Compared with their HK peers, SD older adults showed higher performance in the task of 30s arm curl, but lower abilities in 30s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit & reach, and 8 ft up & go for all the four age groups. In 2 min test, SD older males demonstrated lower capacity at the age of 75-79 years, females exhibited higher and lower ability at 65-69 & 70-74 and 80-84 years, respectively. In addition, higher BMI was seen in the SD old males at 65-69 years and in females at 65-69, 70-74 and 75-79 years. The changing trends of SD-HK disparities with aging vary in gender and different FF parameters, and notably, the disadvantage in motor abilities of the SD old females tend to increase with aging, which results in relative larger gaps at 80-84 years. Conclusions: There are great disparities in functional fitness between the older adults of Shan Dong and Hong Kong. Age stratified and gender specific intervention focusing more on the motor abilities of lower extremity strength, upper and lower body flexibility and agility & balance control should be established for the SD old residents, especially for the females.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/ijpah.4.1.1.boisestate

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