Association between muscle strengthening physical activities and mortality among American adults with mobility limitations

Compared to aerobic-based physical activity, less research has evaluated the effects of muscle-strengthening physical activity (MSPA) on mortality. Additionally, limited research has evaluated this among adults with mobility limitations, which was this study's purpose. Data from the 2003-2006 NHANES, with follow-up through 2011, were used (analyzed in 2016). MSPA was assessed via self-report, with all-cause, CVD-specific, and cancer-specific mortality assessed as the outcome variables. Analyses were limited to adults with mobility limitations (N = 1411), assessed via a validated questionnaire. After adjustments, those meeting MSPA guidelines (vs. not) had a 38% reduced hazard of all-cause death (HR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41-0.95). Results were similar for CVD-specific mortality (HR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.23-0.97) and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.06-1.20). Meeting MSPA guidelines is associated with reduced all-cause and cause-specific mortality among adults with mobility limitations. This is an encouraging observation as adults with mobility limitations may be unable to engage in sufficient amounts of aerobic-based physical activity. Thus, promotion of MSPA among this population may be of critical importance.