Effect of three years-intervention program on functional fitness and medical health status in community-dwelling elderly

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of intervention for three years using exercise and health education programs on functional fitness in the elderly living in the community. One hundred and fifteen aged persons (35 males ; 75.6±4.4 yrs and 80 females; 73.2±5.1 yrs) out of 182 originally registered volunteers as the intervention group and 42 aged persons (21 male; 73.7±5.3 yrs and 21 female; 72.7±5.5 yrs) out of 74 originally registered volunteers as the control group were subjected for the analysis of the data. The program consisted of the two programs; the home- based exercise program and the group-based health education program. The exercise program was composed of muscle stretching, resistance training of quadriceps muscle, and fast walking. The group-based health education program, which was designed to enhance subjects motivation for practicing the exercise program, was applied to the classes which was held at every 2 month throughout 3 years from 1995 to 1998 in the intervention group. Data on functional fitness (sitting and standing, zigzag walking, hand working, self- care working, and total score), medical examinations, total energy expenditure of habitual exercise, other physical activity, and life behaviors were obtained from all subjects before and after the intervention period. The results were as follows: 1) The program adherence was 75.8% and mean rate of class participation was 54.2% at the end of the intervention period. 2) After the intervention period, the participation in senior club activity was significantly increased in the intervention group and significant difference of the change in participation was found between the intervention group and the control group. 3) The decline of sitting and standing ability by aging was less in the intervention group than in the control group, and the ability of self care working in the intervention group was significantly improved from base line. 4) Significant relationship between change in total score of functional fitness and the average total energy expenditure of habitual exercise during 3 years was found in the intervention group. 5) Significant negative relationship between change in total score of functional fitness and chronological age was found in the intervention group. 6) Intervention program produced significant positive effects on the number of RBC and hematocrit in male and serum albumin, hemoglobin, and total protein in female. These results suggested that this intervention program was useful to encourage participation in physical and social activities, and effective to maintain or improve functional fitness level, and to prevent the development of anemia and the deterioration of nutritional status in the elderly.