Characteristics of objectively-assessed sedentary behavior patterns among older adults with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective: This study identified the characteristics of sedentary behavior (SB) patterns among older individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: The participants were 55 older outpatients. Measurements included SB patterns and moderate-to vigorous physical activity from three-axis accelerometer data, pain intensity, physical disability, physical function, and knee osteoarthritis-related and sociodemographic variables. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear models were used to identify SB patterns and sociodemographic and other associated variables.

Results: Average sedentary time was 543 min/day (59% of accelerometer wear time) with 6.6 breaks/sedentary h. The proportion of prolonged sedentary bouts in daily sedentary time was 44.5% (4.7 time/day). Individuals aged ≥75 years had longer sedentary time, higher proportion of sedentary time and number of prolonged bouts, and fewer number of breaks compared with those aged 65–74 years. Individuals with severe physical disabilities had higher proportion of sedentary time and number of prolonged bouts. Individuals with lower physical function had longer and higher proportion of sedentary time and fewer number of breaks than the counterpart.

Conclusions: Prolonged sitting in older individuals with knee osteoarthritis was associated with aging, severe physical disability, and low physical function.