Abstract
This study aimed to identify the key physical abilities (aerobic endurance, gait speed, balance, strength) and psychological variables associated with the level of basic (BADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities of daily living in an autonomous community-dwelling elderly population in Italy. 135 elderly people (63% women; mean age = 73.3, SD = 5.5) were included in the study. Stepwise regression was performed to verify the association between these variables and the level of BADL and IADL in the elderly participants. Results showed that balance (β = -0.21, p < 0.01) and perception of physical functioning (β = 0.32, p < 0.0001) were the key individual variables related to BADL scores, and IADL score was associated with perception of physical functioning (β = 0.30, p < 0.0001) and upper limb strength (β = 0.21, p < 0.05). The results demonstrate a relationship between physical functioning and ADL, both real physical functioning and perceived physical functioning.
Highlights
Autonomy in performing Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is crucial for successful ageing in our society [1]
Our study excluded many physical abilities that other studies [6] have demonstrated to be related to Basic ADL (BADL) and Instrumental ADL (IADL) in the elderly. These variables may be associated with BADL and IADL, our study suggests that balance and upper limb strength have a stronger relationship with BADL and IADL in the elderly
Our study indicates that BADL and IADL in the elderly are a matter of physical functioning, real and perceived
Summary
Autonomy in performing Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is crucial for successful ageing in our society [1]. This knowledge could facilitate the analysis and management of the barriers to autonomy in the elderly in their daily life: clinical evaluations, preventative activities and rehabilitation strategies could be more effective by addressing the main variables significantly correlated with ADL. It is vital that we obtain complete and definitive results about the relationship between ADL and physical abilities, taking into account the psychological variables linked to the body and its functioning, as well as the effects of depression For these reasons, we investigated the association between BADL and IADL and a large set of physical abilities and psychological constructs with an aim to clarify the relationship between ADL and physical functioning
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