Method: The participants were 7542 older adults from Shanghai, China. Daily PA levels, walking, and working styles were collected using questionnaires. Anthropometric (e.g., height, weight, skin folder), physiological (e.g., blood pressure, vital capacity), and FF (e.g., flexibility, balance, agility tests) data were also collected. The participants were categorized into 60-64 and 65-69 years age groups.
Analysis/Results: Independent t tests were conducted to examine the differences in age groups on physiological and FF factors separately for male and female older adults. A 2 (gender) X 2 (age groups) MANOVA was conducted to explore interactions among gender, age groups and all the dependent factors. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship among daily PA, walking, types of working and overall FF scores. The results showed that older age group’s systolic blood pressure and choice reaction time were significantly higher, while their vital capacity, the performance in grip strength, sit and reach, and one-legged standing with eyes closed were significantly lower than the younger age group (p<.001). Significant interactions were found among gender X age groups and systolic blood pressure (p<.01), grip strength (p<.05), and choice reaction time (p<.05). Specifically, female older age group (65-69 y)’s systolic blood pressure and the time in finishing the choice reaction time test were rising faster. The grip strength in male older age group (65-69 y) was decreasing faster. The frequency of daily walking, low, moderate, vigorous PA, and riding bicycle were positively related to the overall score of FF (p<.01).
Conclusions: Even among older adults, their systolic blood pressure, vital capacity, and FF performance were still changing. Female older adults had slower reaction time and were more likely to have systolic high blood pressure as they became older. Male older adults lost muscle power faster as they age then their female counterparts.