I can’t stop thinking about this:
One in four women over age 65 is unable to walk two blocks or climb a flight of stairs. Known as mobility disability, it is the leading type of incapacity in the United States and a key contributor to a person’s loss of independence.
The press release for the study says that light-intensity physical activity – a casual walk, shopping, light gardening – can protect mobility. Good, because:
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is increasingly more difficult to perform as people age. Considering the aging population in the United States, these findings could have major impacts on public health recommendations.
The mean time spent in light physical activity was 4.8 hours per day. [However,] the highest levels of light-intensity physical activity are unnecessary. After five hours of activity, we observed no further increase in benefit.
Light-intensity physical activity was associated with preserved mobility regardless of the amount of higher-intensity physical activities, such as brisk walking, jogging or running, the women engaged in.
As long as we keep moving…