Objectives: To prospectively examine whether physical activity or change in physical activity increases or decreases the risk of disability later in life.
Methods: Tobit regression models were used to examine the effect of physical activity at baseline and change from baseline on disability 10 and 20 years later in 6913 adults.
Results: Increasing recreational physical activity was associated with reduced risk of disability whereas reducing recreational physical activity increased the risk of disability after 10 years.
Conclusions: The analyses reveal a protective effect of sustained physical activity on disability among adults.