Grant: Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data

The extent to which people are able to participate in their community often depends on their ability to walk outside of their home, in both outdoor (e.g., sidewalk, park) and indoor environments (e.g., shopping mall, community centre, friend's home). The ability to walk in the community often decreases with increasing age and becomes more difficult when an individual suffers from a chronic condition such as osteoarthritis. Having limited community walking has been associated with reduced mobility, decline in self-care abilities, and social isolation. In this study, data from approximately 30,000 people in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging will be used to identify factors associated with community walking in older adults and those with osteoarthritis. We will use both self-report (questionnaire) data as well as objective (physical test) data in our study. We will examine differences between men and women and look for differences across different age ranges (45-64, 65-74, 75+ years of age). In addition, because this study will make use of the largest data set ever available for this type of research, we will be able to test some existing theories about how factors combine to influence how well individuals are able to walk in their community. Our findings will help us better understand factors that limit and encourage community walking in Canadian older adults. In addition, we will gain more knowledge about whether the things that influence walking in the community differ for people with osteoarthritis. This is important for developing prevention and rehabilitation treatment programs with older individuals, including those with chronic conditions and has implications for future research and policy planning.