Takashi Jindo

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate determinants of changes in physical fitness after a fall-prevention exercise program in older females. Methods: The study subjects included 83 community-dwelling females 65 years of age or older (mean age: 70.4 ± 4.0 years) living in Kasama City, rural Japan. All subjects participated in a fall-prevention exercise program called square-stepping exercise (SSE) conducted once a week for 11 weeks. In order to assess the physical fitness benefits of by the exercise program, we measured the results of five physical performance tests: grip strength, one leg stand, sit and reach, timed up and go and the choice-stepping reaction time. In addition, we evaluated comprehensive physical fitness scores based on the standardized total score of the five physical performance tests. The changes in the comprehensive physical fitness score between baseline and after the program was used as the dependent variable, while the baseline values of age, education, clinical history, physical activity, Lubben social network scale, geriatric depression scale, five cognitive function test result, comprehensive physical fitness score and percentage of attendance were treated as independent variables. Results: A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the change in comprehensive physical fitness score correlated significantly with the baseline values of age (β = - 0.273), the five cognitive function test result (P = 0.293) and comprehensive physical fitness score (β = - 0.607). Conclusions: These results suggest that older females with a low level of physical fitness at baseline are more likely to improve their physical fitness with a period of exercise training. However, the improvements in physical fitness are lower in older females with a low level of cognitive function than in those with a high level of cognitive function.