Effects of Combined Exercise Program to Functional Fitness for Community-Dwelling Japanese Elderly Women.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of combined exercise program for the functional fitness promotion program which composed of the exercise program and facilitating program for the Japanese elderly women. METHODS: Participants: The subjects were 49 aged women (Intervention group (IG): N=21; 67.5±5.0 yrs and control group(CG); N= 28, 69.0±4.4 yrs). Intervention: The program was constituted by the home-based exercise program and the facilitating program for exercise adherence and participation. The exercise program was composed of stretching for flexibility, resistance exercise for muscle strength, and brisk walking for aerobic capacity. The facilitating program was designed to enhance subjects' self efficacy for exercise program using stages of change model. The facilitating program was applied in the periodic classes which were held every two weeks over the period of five months. The CG was asked to keep their usual life. RESULTS: Before Intervention period, functional fitness and physical fitness level in the IG was not significantly different from that in CG. The program adherence and class participation were 73.9 % and 92.2 %. After the intervention period, IG showed significant improvement in every functional fitness (Sitting & Standing: IG:4.7±1.7sec to 4.5±2.0sec, P<0.05,vs CG:4.8±2.0sec to 4.8±2.2sec,NS, Zig-Zag walking: IG:7.4±1.6sec to 6.6±1.4sec,P<0.001,vs CG:7.7±1.1sec to 7.7±1.6sec,NS, Hand Working: IG:33.9±5.3sec to 31.6±8.8sec,P<0.05,vs CG:33.0±3.8sec to 32.3±4.3sec NS, Self Care Working: IG:5.5±1.4sec to 4.5±1.4sec,P<0.001,vs CG:6.6±1.6sec to 5.8±1.6sec,P<0.05), and physical fitness items(Sit & Reach. IG: P<0.01vs CG: NS, Knee Extension strength IG: P<0.01vs CG: NS, 3min. walk distance. IG: P<0.01vs CG: P<0.05) CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the combined exercise program for the functional fitness which composed of the exercise program and facilitating programs were effective in functional fitness and physical fitness level for the Japanese elderly women.