Association between daily physical activity levels and functional mobility in dwelling-community older adults enrolled in structured exercise program

Introduction: Promoting healthy aging has become essential over the years. However, the predominant focus on the impact of structured exercise programs has led to a scarcity of observational analyses on the daily active pattern of older adults and how these relate to functional capacity, especially among older adults enrolled in a community-based exercise program. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a sample of 60 participants (73.4 ± 5.06 years). A questionnaire was administered to characterize the sample, verify compliance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and collect sociodemographic and clinical data of the participants. The level of physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE-PT), and functional mobility was evaluated using the Timed Up & Go (TUG) and the 4-meter Gait Speed Test (4mGST). Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test to compare participants training 2 times/week versus 3 or more times/week. Results: A moderately negative correlation (𝜌 = − 0.342; p < 0.01) was found between the total PASE-PT score and the TUG. Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was found between the household activities domain and the TUG (𝜌 = − 0.326; p < 0.011). Conversely, no significant correlations were found between the 4mGST and any PASE-PT domains, and no statistically significant differences were observed between training frequency groups. Conclusion: Daily physical activity, particularly household activities, is associated with better dynamic mobility performance (TUG). Regarding the negative findings, the lack of correlation in leisure activities and the 4mGST may be due to a shared active baseline and a ceiling effect, respectively. The occupational domain was constrained because all participants were retired. Importantly, the absence of statistically significant differences between training frequencies suggests that weekly session counts alone do not dictate mobility, underscoring the critical role of daily active patterns.