Scientists are increasingly emphasising that simply looking at how long people live or how long they stay healthy is not enough. An emerging concept is ‘movement span’, or the time during which someone can move around and be active without problems. This provides a practical picture of how truly vital someone is.
Duration of movement revolves around the ability to move independently and participate in daily life as well as possible. This is important because reduced mobility often leads to less self-reliance and a lower quality of life. In studies involving small animals, this concept was already applied by measuring how well they could move as an indicator of their health.
Because physical movement has such a direct influence on daily functioning, it is a more valuable measure than just age or general health. It also helps to work in a more targeted way on preventing frailty and fall risks in older adults. In this way, interventions can be tailored more effectively to maintaining quality of life.
For everyone who is ageing, this means that attention to physical activity is essential. By promoting an active lifestyle, the duration of mobility can be extended, which helps to remain independent and vital for longer. This contributes to a more pleasant and healthier life in later years.
Source: Reason
