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• The link between physical activities and caregiving needs is studied. • The level and intensity of activities are focused in relation to social isolation. • This 5-year longitudinal observational study used a population-based study. • Regular daily steps, not intensity, were found to reduce incidence of disability. This study aimed to investigate association between objectively measured physical activities with incidence disability in older adults with and without social isolation. This 5-year longitudinal observational study used a population-based study from a sub-cohort of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Study of Geriatric Syndrome. In Japan, Incident disability is defined as a new case of public insurance certification for long-term care. As participants, we enrolled 5,257 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 70 years. The Participants on whom incomplete baseline physical activity assessments were performed; who required long-term care; had a history of dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, or depression; who lacked independence in basic ADL; who had Mini-Mental State Examination scores; or who had missing measurements; were excluded. Thus, 2,071 participants were included. Of the participants, 1,183 non-socially isolated participants had 151 (4.3%) cases of disability, while socially isolated participants had 150 (13%) cases. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis presented the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of daily steps and low-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities—0.62(0.43–0.89), 0.84(0.60–1.18), 0.62(0.43–0.89) in participants with social isolation, and 0.58(0.40–0.85), 0.86(0.60–1.24), 0.70(0.49–1.01) in those with social isolation. Daily steps were significantly associated with a decreased risk of incidence disability, regardless of social isolation. These results suggest the greater importance of daily physical activity than its specific intensity in socially isolated older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]