5 Risk factors associated with physical decline when aging

I review 5 common risk factors that increase the odds of an older person developing a physical limitation.

I'm Dr Edmond Cleeman, an orthopedic surgeon in New York City, specializing in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery.

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The content contained herein is not designed to, and does not, provide medical advice. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment but is for general informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health, medical condition, or treatment options. Please contact a healthcare professional prior to exercising. Never rely on information in this video, YouTube channel or website in place of seeking medical advice and treatment. Never disregard or delay seeking medical advice because of something you may have read or seen. If you think you may have a medical emergency, you should seek immediate medical treatment. Do NOT use this video for medical emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, call a physician or qualified healthcare provider, or call 911 immediately. Under no circumstances should you attempt self-treatment or the treatment of others based on anything you have seen or read in this video. General information is not medical advice.

The general information provided on the Video is for informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or care, nor is it intended to be a substitute, therefore. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider properly licensed to practice medicine or general healthcare in your jurisdiction concerning any questions you may have regarding any information obtained from this Video and any medical condition you believe may be relevant to you or to someone else. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Video. Always consult with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet, or fitness program. Information obtained on the Video is not exhaustive and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions, or their treatment.

Selected Sources:
Butler AA, Menant JC, Tiedemann AC, Lord SR. Age and gender differences in seven tests of functional mobility. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2009 Jul 30; 6():31.

Mor, V., J. Murphy, S. Masterson-Allen, et al. Risk of functional decline among well elders. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 42:895-904, 1989

LaCroix, A. Z., J. M. Guralnik, L. F. Berkman, R. B. Wallace, and S. Satterfield. Maintaining mobility in late life. II. Smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and body mass index. Am. J. Epidemiol. 137:858-869, 1993.

Ebrahim S, Wannamethee S, Whincup P, Walker M, Shaper A. Locomotor disability in a cohort of British men: the impact of lifestyle and disease. Int J Epidemiol. 2000. Jun;29(3):pp. 478–486.

Lerma NL, et al. Isotemporal Substitution of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity on Function. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018. PMID: 29140899

Rolland Y, et al. Difficulties with physical function associated with obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic-obesity in community-dwelling elderly women: the EPIDOS (EPIDemiologie de l'OSteoporose) Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1895-900.

Christensen U., Støvring N., Schultz-Larsen K., Schroll M., Avlund K. Functional ability at age 75: is there an impact of physical inactivity from middle age to early old age? Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2006;16:245–251.