Aging and Mobility
Mobility is an integral component of healthy aging, as it determines our ability to live independently, participate in daily activities, work and socialize independently, as well as living a fulfilling life. Mobility covers various domains including gait and balance, muscle strength changes due to neuromuscular conditions and cognitive aspects; psychosocial factors (including fall-related psychological concerns (FrPC); cognitive aspects and psychosocial considerations like fall-related psychological concerns (FrPC). A reduction in mobility limits not only physical activity but quality of life and other health conditions; therefore early identification of limitations must occur alongside effective preventive strategies both individually and societally.
One factor often neglected in mobility is processing speed. Slower processing speeds have an adverse impact on all movements by decreasing the quality and quantity of information fed into motor control systems. This results in reduced capabilities to simultaneously perform two tasks at the same time, quickly react to slips or trips to prevent falls, or powerfully rise from chairs.
Biological, medical and public health disciplines must come together in order to forge an integrated agenda on mobility and aging. To this end, joint master’s and doctoral programs in public health and rehabilitation sciences can provide us with the tools we need to create new, innovative and sustainable strategies for combatting mobility decline.