Progressive disability develops with older age in association with underlying disease, comorbidity
and frailty. Physical performance characteristics are important to improve the physical condition of
older persons and therefore may be able to prevent or delay the onset of (progressive) disability. However
lack of understanding of the physiology and etiology of functional decline leading to disability causes a
problem in the development of effective preventive interventions. The aim of the present review is to
determine which physical performance characteristics are determinants of disability in the older general
population.