Physical performance, balance, mobility, and muscle strength decline at different rates in elderly people.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to verify the decline in functionality of elderly people. [Subjects and Methods] The study subjects comprised 152 individuals (96 women; 56 men) divided into 3 groups: G1 (60 to 69 years, n=53); G2 (70 to 79 years, n=65); and G3 (80 years or older, n=34). Physical performance, balance, mobility, and muscle strength were assessed using Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Berg Balance Scale (BERG), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and leg press test, respectively. Comparison among age-stratified groups (G1, G2 and G3) and between genders were examined using analysis of variance with Tukey's test as a post hoc test or the Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni correction. [Results] SPPB and BERG scores decreased significantly in comparison between G1 and G3, and between G2 and G3 in women. TUG and leg press scores decreased significantly in comparison between G1 and G3 and between G2 and G3. [Conclusion] People in their 60s and 70s have similar functional characteristics (physical performance, balance, mobility and muscle strength for both genders), and functionality starts to decline when people are in their 80s.

Roland-Morris disability questionnaire is bidimensional and has 16 items when applied to community-dwelling older adults with low back pain.

PURPOSE: To explore the evidence of the internal structure validity of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire in older adults with low back pain. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of psychometric testing involving 528 older adults with low back pain. Internal structure validity was explored by exploratory factor analysis and semi-confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was verified using Kuder-Richardson Formula 20, Cronbach's alpha, and McDonald's omega. Replicability was observed by the generalized H index. RESULTS: Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire displayed two factors that assess "functional capacity" and "mobility". Eight items were excluded for presenting cross-loading (2 and 10), inadequate loading factors and communalities (18, 24, 13, and 12), or did not relate to the latent construct (15 and 22). Semi-confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the questionnaire had a good fitness model [X2 = 153.698 (p = 0.00001); RMSEA = 0.037; RMSR = 0.06; WRMR = 0.04; NNFI = 0.987; GFI = 0.979; AGFI = 0.971]. Reliability was acceptable (KR-20 = 0.79; Cronbach's alpha = 0.86; McDonald's Omega = 0.85), but replicability was poor in both factors (G-H factor 1 = 0.816-0.655; G-H factor 2 = 0.889-0.775). CONCLUSIONS: The most appropriate version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire to apply to older adults with low back pain has 16 items and assesses functional capacity and mobility. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe RMDQ-16 is the most appropriate version of the RMDQ to use in older adults with LBP;The RMDQ-16 is bidimensional and assesses "functional capacity" and "mobility";The poor replicability of the RMDQ-16 indicates that it will probably not be stable across studies, but it can be useful in a clinical setting.