Application of Pole Walking to Day Service Centers for Use by Community-dwelling Frail Elderly People

Abstract

In an aging society, it is important to provide community-dwelling frail elderly with ongoing social services to maintain and improve their physical function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical fitness, posture, and quality of life (QoL) on community-dwelling elderly using pole walking at a day service center. Participants were recruited from day service users, and a control group and intervention (pole walking) group were randomly selected. Pole walking group members were allowed to use poles during walking and ambulation in the daily routine of a day service center for 3 months. Thirty-five and 22 participants in the control and pole walking groups, respectively, were measured for physical fitness, posture, and QoL at the baseline and at the final session, and the measurements were compared to pre- and postintervention levels in both groups. In the control group, a timed up and go test after 3 months was performed significantly slower than at baseline ( p < 0.05, power = 0.13, effect size = 0.13). The Physical Component Summary score of the MOS 8-item Short Form Health Survey was significantly increased compared to the score at baseline ( p < 0.01, power = 0.64, effect size = 0.47) in the pole walking group. The effects of 3 months of pole walking on community-dwelling elderly day service users showed improved Physical Component Summary scores of higher QoL. However, there was no significant effect of physical functions due to the intervention.