Physical assessment for aging prediction.

Abstract

Aging is a continuum from birth to death but we age at various speeds facing different aspects of aging. Chronological age is not a correct measure of physical or intellectual age, because it might be considered only as one of the facets of the aging process. Signs of mental or physical deficiency do not occur in the normal aging process but are related to diseases occurring frequently with age. Quality of life is related to pathological aging and is influenced by musculoskeletal impairment, which is dependent on normal and pathological aging processes. Both age and diseases contribute to self-insufficiency and institutionalization, and are linked to morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Identification of older individuals who are at risk of future functional decline is an essential part of geriatric assessment. Maintenance of independence in aging and quality of life are goals shared by geriatricians and the older adults. Some studies have reported that factors such as chronic illnesses, poor economic status, poor cognitive function and depression, sedentary life-style, and lack of social support are associated with an increased risk of disability [1, 2]. Functional status, which reflects the different aging processes, is linked to and predictive of outcome. Basic motor tasks such as walking or stepping are hallmarks of a mobilityrelated quality of life (and are often underestimated by younger healthy people). A minimum level of lower extremity strength and ability to maintain postural stability in the upright position are necessary for walking. And strength can compensate for poor balance [3]. Normal mobility is the ability to walk half a mile easily and to climb stairs without problems. Severe walking disability as defined by the Women’s Health and Aging Study [4] is an inability to walk a