This study assesses whether physical activity, depression, fatigue, or perceived health are affected by use of a walking aid in residents of an assisted-living facility. From an assisted-living facility, 21 participants who were independent ambulators (n = 8) or who used a cane or walker (n = 13) participated. Physical activity was measured with accelerometers, and depression, fatigue, and perceived heath status were assessed with questionnaires. There were no differences in physical activity, depression, fatigue, or perceived health status between those using and those not using assistive devices. However, 15% of the participants reported moderate to severe depression, and 40% of participants reported at least mild depression. Depression was strongly correlated to fatigue. Thus, physical activity, depression, fatigue, and perceived health are not associated with walker or cane use in assisted-living facilities. Nevertheless, among all, mild depression is prevalent and strongly correlated to fatigue.
Aikens, J.E., Reinecke, M.A., Pliskin, N.H., Fischer, J.S., Wiebe, J.S., McCracken, L.M., et al. (1999). Assessing depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis: Is it necessary to omit items from the original Beck Depression Inventory? Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 22(2), 127-142.
2.
Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., & Brown, G.K. (1996). The Beck Depression Inventory II manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation .
3.
Beekman, A.T., Penninx, B.W., Deeg, D.J., de Beurs, E., Geerling, S.W., & van Tilburg, W. (2002). The impact of depression on the well-being, disability and use of services in older adults: A longitudinal perspective. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 105(1), 20-27.
4.
Berlin, J.E., Storti, K.L., & Brach, J.S. (2006). Using activity monitors to measure physical activity in free-living conditions. Physical Therapy, 86(8), 1137-1145.
5.
Burdick, D.J., Rosenblatt, A., Samus, Q.M., Steele, C., Baker, A., Harper, M., et al. (2005). Predictors of functional impairment in residents of assisted-living facilities: The Maryland Assisted Living Study . Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60(2), 258-264.
6.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2006). Web-based injury statistics query and reporting system. Retrieved August 16, 2007, http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars
7.
Chen, K.Y., & Bassett, D.R., Jr. (2005). The technology of accelerometry-based activity monitors: Current and future. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(Suppl. 11), S490-S500.
8.
Cyarto, E.V., Myers, A.M., & Tudor-Locke, C. (2004). Pedometer accuracy in nursing home and community-dwelling older adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(2), 205-209.
9.
Fisk, J.D., Pontefract, A., Ritvo, P.G., Archibald, C.J., & Murray, T.J. (1994). The impact of fatigue on patients with multiple sclerosis. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 21(1), 9-14.
10.
Foley, M.P., Prax, B., Crowell, R., & Boone, T. (1996). Effects of assistive devices on cardiorespiratory demands in older adults. Physical Therapy, 76(12), 1313-1319.
11.
Freedson, P.S., Melanson, E., & Sirard, J. (1998). Calibration of the Computer Science and Applications, Inc. Accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise , 30(5), 777-781.
12.
Gitlin, L.N., Luborsky, M.R., & Schemm, R.L. (1998). Emerging concerns of older stroke patients about assistive device use. The Gerontologist, 38(2), 169-180.
13.
Graafmans, W.C., Lips, P., Wijlhuizen, G.J., Pluijm, S.M., & Bouter, L.M. (2003). Daily physical activity and the use of a walking aid in relation to falls in elderly people in a residential care setting. Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 36(1), 23-28.
14.
Gretebeck, R.J., & Montoye, H.J. (1992). Variability of some objective measures of physical activity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 24(10), 1167-1172.
15.
Groth-Marnat, G. (1990). The handbook of psychological assessment (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley.
16.
Joyce, B.M., & Kirby, R.L. (1991). Canes, crutches and walkers. American Family Physician, 43(2), 535-542.
17.
Mazzeo, R.S., Cavanagh, P., & Evans, W.J. (1998). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(6), 992-1008.
18.
Mollica, R. (2002). State assisted living policy. Retrieved September 14, 2006, from http://www.nashp.org/Files/Itc_15_AL_2002.pdf
19.
Mota, D.D., & Pimenta, C.A. (2006). Self-report instruments for fatigue assessment: A systematic review. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice , 20(1), 49-78.
20.
Ng, A.V., & Kent-Braun, J.A. (1997). Quantitation of lower physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(4), 517-523.
21.
Pettersson, I., Appelros, P., & Ahlstrom, G. (2007). Lifeworld perspectives utilizing assistive devices: Individuals, lived experience following a stroke. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(1), 15-26.
22.
Probst, V.S., Troosters, T., Coosemans, I., Spruit, M.A., Pitta Fde, O., Decramer, M., et al. (2004). Mechanisms of improvement in exercise capacity using a rollator in patients with COPD. Chest, 126(4), 1102-1107.
Sallis, J.F., & Saelens, B.E. (2000). Assessment of physical activity by self-report: Status, limitations, and future directions. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 71(Suppl. 2), S1-S14.
25.
Schuit, A.J., Feskens, E.J., Launer, L.J., & Kromhout, D. (2001). Physical activity and cognitive decline, the role of the apolipoprotein e4 allele. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(5), 772-777.
26.
Simonsick, E.M., Guralnik, J.M., Volpato, S., Balfour, J., & Fried, L.P. (2005). Just get out the door! Importance of walking outside the home for maintaining mobility: Findings from the Women's Health and Aging Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53(2), 198-203.
27.
Tomita, M.R., Mann, W.C., Fraas, L.F., & Stanton, K.M. (2004). Predictors of the use of assistive devices that address physical impairments among community-based frail elders. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 23(2), 141-155.
28.
Tryon, W.W., & Williams, R. (1996). Fully proportional actigraphy: A new instrument. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 28(3), 392-403.
29.
Tylee, A., Gastpar, M., Lepine, J.P., & Mendlewicz, J. (1999). Depres II (Depression Research in European Society II): A patient survey of the symptoms, disability and current management of depression in the community. Depres Steering Committee. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 14(3), 139-151.
30.
Walters, S.J., Munro, J.F., & Brazier, J.E. (2001). Using the SF-36 with older adults: A cross-sectional community-based survey. Age and Ageing, 30(4), 337-343.
31.
Ware, J.E., Kosinski, M., & Dewey, J.E. (2000). How to score Version 2 of the SF-36 Health Survey . Lincoln, RI: QualityMetric.
32.
Watson, L.C., Garrett, J.M., Sloane, P.D., Gruber-Baldini, A.L., & Zimmerman, S. (2003). Depression in assisted living: Results from a four-state study. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry , 11(5), 534-542.
33.
Welk, G.J., Schaben, J.A., & Morrow, J.R., Jr. (2004). Reliability of accelerometry-based activity monitors: A generalizability study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(9), 1637-1645.
34.
Zimmerman, S., Sloane, P.D., Eckert, J.K., Gruber-Baldini, A.L., Morgan, L.A., Hebel, J.R., et al. (2005). How good is assisted living? Findings and implications from an outcomes study. Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60(4), S195-204.
