Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 4 S173-S182, Copyright © 1996 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Disentangling the disablement process

RH Lawrence and AM Jette
New England Research Institutes, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA.

A model was proposed to assess the premise that functional limitations are an intermediary stage between risk factors (e.g., sex and frequency of walking a mile), pathology/impairments (e.g., musculoskeletal problems), and the onset and course of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) disability. Analyses were based on two random subsamples (each with n = 524) of Longitudinal Study of Aging respondents who were nondisabled at baseline (1984) and reinterviewed in 1988 and 1990. The model's central premise was supported in two ways. The main influence of age, frequency of walking, and musculoskeletal problems was on the onset of functional limitations, rather than the onset of IADL disability. And, onset of lower body functional limitations influenced future disability (1990) through its relationship with disability in 1988 and functional limitations in 1990. The results underscore the value of clinical trials which focus on minimizing functional limitations as a strategy for preventing disability.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. E. Holstein, P. Due, G. Almind, and K. Avlund Eight-year change in functional ability among 70- to 95-year-olds Scand J Public Health, May 1, 2007; 35(3): 243 - 249. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. J. Porter Scales and Tales: Older Women's Difficulty With Daily Tasks J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2007; 62(3): S153 - S159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sowers, M. L. Jannausch, M. Gross, C. A. Karvonen-Gutierrez, R. M. Palmieri, M. Crutchfield, and K. Richards-McCullough Performance-based Physical Functioning in African-American and Caucasian Women at Midlife: Considering Body Composition, Quadriceps Strength, and Knee Osteoarthritis Am. J. Epidemiol., May 15, 2006; 163(10): 950 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M Jette Toward a Common Language for Function, Disability, and Health Physical Therapy, May 1, 2006; 86(5): 726 - 734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Sternfeld, L. Ngo, W. A. Satariano, and I. B. Tager Associations of Body Composition with Physical Performance and Self-reported Functional Limitation in Elderly Men and Women Am. J. Epidemiol., July 15, 2002; 156(2): 110 - 121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. F. Ferraro, Y.-p. Su, R. J. Gretebeck, D. R. Black, and S. F. Badylak Body Mass Index and Disability in Adulthood: A 20-Year Panel Study Am J Public Health, May 1, 2002; 92(5): 834 - 840. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Wray and C. S. Blaum Explaining the Role of Sex on Disability: A Population-Based Study Gerontologist, August 1, 2001; 41(4): 499 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Resnick A Prediction Model of Aerobic Exercise in Older Adults Living in a Continuing-Care Retirement Community J Aging Health, May 1, 2001; 13(2): 287 - 310. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. W. Porell and H. B. Miltiades Access to Care and Functional Status Change Among Aged Medicare Beneficiaries J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2001; 56(2): 69S - 83. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. E. Femia, S. H. Zarit, and B. Johansson The Disablement Process in Very Late Life: A Study of the Oldest-Old in Sweden J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2001; 56(1): 12P - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. M. Simonsick, J. D. Kasper, J. M. Guralnik, K. Bandeen-Roche, L. Ferrucci, R. Hirsch, S. Leveille, T. Rantanen, and L. P. Fried Severity of Upper and Lower Extremity Functional Limitation: Scale Development and Validation With Self-Report and Performance-Based Measures of Physical Function J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2001; 56(1): 10S - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. K. Peek and R. T. Coward Antecedents of Disability for Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions Research on Aging, July 1, 2000; 22(4): 422 - 444. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. L Beissner, J. E Collins, and H. Holmes Muscle Force and Range of Motion as Predictors of Function in Older Adults Physical Therapy, June 1, 2000; 80(6): 556 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Zsembik, M. K. Peek, and C. W. Peek Race and Ethnic Variation in the Disablement Process J Aging Health, May 1, 2000; 12(2): 229 - 249. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. D. Wolinsky, E. S. Armbrecht, and K. W. Wyrwich Rethinking Functional Limitation Pathways Gerontologist, April 1, 2000; 40(2): 137 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. K. Peek and R. T. Coward Gender Differences in the Risk of Developing Disability among Older Adults with Arthritis J Aging Health, May 1, 1999; 11(2): 131 - 150. [Abstract] [PDF]