By SUSAN IPAKTCHIAN

Once you reach your 70s, is there anything you can do to stave off the threat of physical disability and prolong your ability to care for yourself?

Researchers at the Stanford Prevention Research Center are investigating whether exercise or other healthy habits could help sedentary senior citizens preserve their independence.

With the growing population of older Americans, preventing age-related declines in physical function has become a major public health priority, said Abby King, PhD, professor of health research and policy and of medicine. However, she said the question of whether changes in health habits can avert physical disability hasn’t been definitively answered.

“Different studies have looked at functional aspects of the disability picture, such as the effect of an increase in muscle strength on the ability to walk farther, but we want to answer the larger question: Does a regular program of activity or other changes in healthy lifestyle patterns prevent physical disability?” King said. “Our goal is to find strategies that will help people remain independent longer so they can live in their own homes and participate in the day-to-day activities of their choosing.”

Getting conclusive evidence about the effectiveness of various health-improvement strategies will require a large-scale, randomized trial. But first, researchers want to ensure the strategies are appropriate for sedentary senior citizens. King and her colleagues at three other institutions around the country are conducting a pilot study called Lifestyle Interventions and Independence For Elders, or LIFE, to evaluate the strategies and lay the groundwork for a larger trial.

For the LIFE study, each of the four sites is recruiting 100 participants who will be randomly assigned to one of two health programs. The “Successful Aging” program will include classes and demonstrations on such topics as nutrition, communicating with health-care professionals and foot care. The other program involves moderate-intensity exercise that includes fitness, strength, flexibility and balance training.

The study will last for at least 12 months during which both groups will have regular contact with trained staff from Stanford in health and fitness. Participants also will receive health and medical screening exams at no cost.

King’s team at Stanford is recruiting adults who are between the ages of 70 and 85; are experiencing some difficulty with such daily activities as walking, getting out of chairs or climbing stairs; are not involved in regular physical activity; and live within a reasonable commuting distance of Stanford.

For more information about the study, call 723-9530 and select option 4, or visit the Web site for the Stanford Prevention Research Center at http://prevention.stanford.edu/.