Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41526812›Full record

ArticleEuropean review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity2026

Physical behaviour profiles and their associations with fitness and function in older adults: a cross-sectional latent profile analysis.

Vera Zymbal, João P Magalhães, Fátima Baptista, Gil B Rosa, Eduardo B Cruz, Luís B Sardinha

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Vera ZymbalInstituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Escola Superior de Educação, Centro de Investigação em Qualidade de Vida (CIEQV), Setúbal, Portugal. vera.zymbal@ips.pt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2319-199X
João P MagalhãesCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1073-8650
Fátima BaptistaCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0214-5401
Gil B RosaCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9358-4820
Eduardo B CruzInstituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Escola Superior de Saúde, Setúbal, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1812-1815
Luís B SardinhaCIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6230-6027

Funding

COMPUTER AIDED ANALYSIS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHYZ01CT000002 · CIT · COMPUTER RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY · PI BAILEY, JAMES J. · 1985 to 2003
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Intramural NIH HHS Z01 CT000002Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECINST/00036/2021/CP2776/CT0002Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) UIDB/00447/2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTraditional variable-centred approaches often analyse physical behaviours (sedentary behaviour [SB], light physical activity [LPA], and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) in isolation, potentially masking their combined effects on outcomes. This study applied latent profile analysis, a person-centred approach, to identify naturally occurring physical behaviour profiles in older adults and examined their associations with physical fitness and physical function.

methodsThis cross-sectional study included 1,095 older Portuguese adults (≥ 65 years; 765 females). SB, LPA, and MVPA were assessed using accelerometry (Actigraph; Pensacola, Florida) on the right hip and expressed as percentages of waking time. Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct profiles based on these percentages. Physical fitness was evaluated by Senior Fitness Test battery and handgrip strength. Physical function was assessed using the 12-item Composite Physical Function questionnaire. Generalised linear models, adjusted for age, were used to examine associations between profiles and outcomes.

resultsThree distinct profiles emerged for both sexes: "balanced movers" (~ 50% SB, ~ 46% LPA, ~ 4% MVPA), "intermediate movers" (~ 66% SB, ~ 32% LPA, ~ 2% MVPA), and "highly sedentary" (~ 80% SB, ~ 20% LPA, < 1% MVPA). Compared to the "highly sedentary" groups, both "balanced movers" and "intermediate movers" demonstrated better performance on most physical fitness tests and reported higher physical function. Notably, "intermediate movers", performed similarly to "balanced movers" in most measures.

conclusionsDistinct physical behaviour profiles exist among older Portuguese adults. Profiles characterised by lower SB and higher LPA, even when not fully meeting MVPA recommendations ("intermediate movers"), were associated with better physical fitness and physical function compared to the "highly sedentary" profile. This underscores the importance of reducing SB and promoting LPA along with MVPA. By uncovering these behavioural profiles among older adults, latent profile analysis provides valuable insights to guide the development of more personalized interventions for healthy ageing.

Indexed as

AgeingAgilityEnduranceFlexibilityLatent profile analysisPhysical activitySedentary behaviourStrength

Identifiers

PMID41526812
PMCPMC12888268

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.