Purpose: Japan is one of few countries with a male life expectancy over 80 years. The gap between the healthy life span and the total life expectancy is large, highlighting the importance of maintaining physical performance. The present study aims to establish reference values for multiple physical performance measures among high-functioning oldest-old Japanese men and to investigate the correlations among these measurements to understand how these variables are related.
Methods: This study was conducted with 120 Japanese males aged 80 years or older who were able to walk independently. Seven measures of physical performance were assessed: handgrip strength, quadriceps strength, static balance ability (one-legged stance), dynamic balance ability (Functional Reach Test; FRT), walking ability (5-m walking time test), combined movement ability (Timed Up & Go test), and bone quality. Cognitive function was also measured (Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE).
Results: Specific reference values are reported for each physical performance measurement explored in this study. Only six participants were classified as cognitively impaired, and 16 had mild cognitive impairment. There were significant correlations of varying levels among all of the measures of physical performance. Age was significantly correlated with all performance measures except FRT, and there was no correlation between age and MMSE. MMSE was weakly correlated with FRT and unrelated to the other performance measures.
Conclusions: The reference ranges can be used by older men who have not yet reached 80 years and their health care providers as physical performance targets to facilitate the maintenance of independent mobility in later life.
Keywords: cognitive function; healthy life span; older men; physical performance; reference value; walking ability.