Abstract
With advancing age older people shift their attention to health and physical fitness. Maintaining physical capacity including safe walking and mobility contribute significantly to overall health and wellbeing.
In this context, professional community is using terms such as intrinsic capacity, frailty, sarcopenia but also wellbeing, fitness, and resilience. Limited mobility is an early sign of declining physical performance and fitness in older people.
Mobility limitations increase with advancing age. About 35 % of persons in their 7th decade and majority of octogenarians report limited mobility in their own social environment - apartment and its nearby surroundings.
Limited or even lost mobility is a complex multifactorial process that not only worsens quality of life but also increases risk of falling, fall-related injuries, hospitalization, and overall mortality. In this narrative review we provide the definition of mobility, describe age-related changes and risk factors including cognitive, neuromuscular, psychological, and behavioural factors contributing to mobility limitations.
Also, we summarize mobility assessment tools, recognition of the early manifestation and potential approaches to prevent mobility disorders. Exercise training programs involve aerobic exercise (walking), strength and balance training that show the highest effectiveness in improving mobility and gait, increase muscle mass and strength, decrease falls rate, and improve performance in daily activities.