Study on efficient intervention frequency of functional fitness promotion program for community-dwelling elderly

We developed a functional fitness promotion program for community-dwelling elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate feasibility, effectiveness, and efficiency of the program with different intervention frequency. Physically independent elderly people were voluntarily participated in the study and signed an informed consent. They were intervened once (low frequency group: LOW), regularly three times (middle frequency group: MID), and regularly seven times (high frequency group: HIGH) during five months. Functional fitness (sitting and standing, zig-zag walking, hand working, and self-care working), daily life style, and energy expenditure in physical activities (RMR method) were assessed before and after intervention. Those data from 52 males and 128 females in intervention group and from 28 males and 56 females in control group were processed for statistical analysis. Participating rate (divided the number of subjects who participated both assessments by the number of registrants) was significantly different among the groups: 44.2% in control, 70.0% in LOW group, 68.7% in MID group, and 68.1% in HIGH group (P<0.01, Chi-square test). Continual rate (defined as the number of participants who attended not less than two thirds of whole classes divided by the number of registrants) was significantly different among the groups: 100% in LOW group, 64.4% in MID group, and 71.0% in HIGH group (P<0.01, Chi-square test). Program effectiveness (defined as the difference between pre and post values of functional fitness score, delta FF) was significantly different among the groups. Multiple comparison analysis (Dunnett's t-test) showed the significant differences between HIGH and control in male (P<0.05) and female (P<0.01). In intervention groups, correlation analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between program effectiveness and intervention frequency only in female (r=0.29, P= 0.00). Program efficiency defined as delta FF per class for intervention showed no significant difference among the three intervention groups in both sex groups. It was suggested that the higher frequency of intervention was the more effective for improvement of functional fitness in female and that the lower frequency of intervention had the more advantages in utility. Furthermore, this program had the same efficiency among the three intervention frequency groups.