Enhancing Health Span: How Mobility Shapes the Quality of Life in Older Age
As life expectancy rises, one of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring that our health span—how long we live in good health—keeps pace with our age. While many people are living longer, the quality of life in those later years, especially in terms of mobility and physical function, is not always what it could be. At Tempo Orthotics, we understand that mobility plays a crucial role in maintaining a higher quality of life as we age. Our prefabricated orthotics are designed to alleviate pain and improve mobility, enabling individuals to enjoy a more active and fulfilling life.
The Disconnect Between Lifespan and Health Span
It’s becoming increasingly clear that while medical advances have extended lifespan, health span has not followed at the same rate. Research published in JAR Life (2023) highlights that despite increased longevity, older adults often experience significant physical and cognitive decline, especially in mobility. Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to many of these issues, which makes mobility a key factor in improving health outcomes later in life.
In addition, recent studies have identified key behaviors that extend health span, including maintaining a nutritious diet, engaging in regular exercise, managing stress effectively, getting enough sleep, and fostering deep social connections. These lifestyle factors, combined with maintaining mobility, are critical for healthy aging.
The Importance of Staying Active for Longevity
Physical activity is widely recognized as a cornerstone of healthy aging. Studies show that even moderate physical activity has a significant impact on reducing mortality and delaying the onset of chronic diseases. For example, a large pooled cohort analysis by Moore et al. (2012) demonstrated that moderate to vigorous physical activity reduced the risk of mortality. Moreover, according to research by Izquierdo et al. (2021), international guidelines now recommend exercise for older adults as a means to improve mobility, reduce the risk of falls, and support better physical function.
In this context, mobility aids, such as orthotics, become more than just tools for pain relief—they help facilitate physical activity. Whether it's walking, exercising, or simply moving throughout the day, staying mobile is key to promoting cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of dementia (Iso-Markku et al., 2022), and even lowering the risk of various cancers (Moore et al., 2016).
Orthotics: Supporting Active Aging
Foot pain and discomfort can be significant barriers to staying active, especially in older adults. Conditions like plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and flat feet are common and can prevent people from engaging in regular physical activity. At Tempo Orthotics, our prefabricated orthotics are designed to reduce these mechanical forces and alleviate foot pain, thus supporting active aging.
By reducing the pain associated with walking or standing for extended periods, our orthotics enable older adults to engage in regular exercise, which has been shown to improve not only physical health but cognitive function as well. A recent study by Wu et al. (2023) found a dose-response relationship between physical activity and reduced risk of dementia, further underscoring the importance of staying active in old age.
The Future of Mobility and Health Span
Research in geroscience—the study of aging processes—suggests that mobility is more than just about keeping us physically fit; it can slow biological aging itself. According to a study published in J Nutr Health Aging (2022), exercise is thought to act as a "geroprotector," slowing down the cellular processes that drive aging. Conversely, prolonged sedentary behavior may accelerate aging, leading to frailty, reduced immune function, and increased risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease (Paluch et al., 2023).
At Tempo Orthotics, we are committed to supporting the mobility and health span of our customers. By providing products that alleviate pain and improve function, we hope to help people stay active longer, enhancing both their lifespan and health span.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Mobility for Healthy Aging
As life expectancy continues to increase, maintaining mobility becomes essential for preserving quality of life in older age. Regular physical activity, along with behaviors such as proper nutrition, stress management, and fostering social connections, has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, and frailty. At Tempo Orthotics, our prefabricated orthotics are designed to support mobility and reduce pain, contributing to a more active, independent, and healthier life as we age.
Reference List
Izquierdo, M., Merchant, R. A., Morley, J. E., Anker, S. D., Aprahamian, I., Arai, H., et al. (2021). International exercise recommendations in older adults (ICFSR): Expert consensus guidelines. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 25(7), 824-853. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-021-1665-8
Iso-Markku, P., Kujala, U. M., Knittle, K., Polet, J., Vuoksimaa, E., & Waller, K. (2022). Physical activity as a protective factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and quality assessment of cohort and case-control studies. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 56(12), 701-709. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104927
JAR Life. (2023). Health span and quality of life in older adults: Challenges and opportunities. JAR Life, 12, 20–22. https://doi.org/10.14283/jarlife.2023.53
Moore, S. C., Lee, I. M., Weiderpass, E., Campbell, P. T., Sampson, J. N., Kitahara, C. M., et al. (2016). Association of leisure-time physical activity with risk of 26 types of cancer in 1.44 million adults. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(6), 816-825. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1548
Moore, S. C., Patel, A. V., Matthews, C. E., Berrington de Gonzalez, A., Park, Y., Katki, H. A., et al. (2012). Leisure time physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity and mortality: A large pooled cohort analysis. PLOS Medicine, 9(11), e1001335. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001335
Paluch, A. E., Bajpai, S., Ballin, M., Bassett, D. R., Buford, T. W., Carnethon, M. R., et al. (2023). Prospective association of daily steps with cardiovascular disease: A harmonized meta-analysis. Circulation, 147(2), 122-131. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.060702
Wu, W., Ding, D., Zhao, Q., Xiao, Z., Luo, J., & Ganguli, M., et al. (2023). Dose-response relationship between late-life physical activity and incident dementia: A pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies of memory in an international consortium. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 19(1), 107-122. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12684