title: [Prevention of decline in subjectively perceived physical function of the elderly by regular participation in a community-based exercise group].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a community-based group exercise program on physical functioning among elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study enrolled 494 persons aged 70-84 years who volunteered for the study and completed a baseline measurement in 2006 and were re-evaluated 1 year later in 2007. The exercise regimen consisted of resistance training and recreational exercise for 1.5 hours conducted twice a month. Physical functioning was evaluated by a self-administered questionnaire consisting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) and Motor Fitness Scale (MFS). Decline in physical functioning was defined as a reduction in either TMIG-IC or MFS scores of more than 2 points deviation from the median change of each score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TMIG-IC and MFS results were obtained from 494 and 392 eligible subjects, respectively. After 1 year, 68 subjects (TMIG-IC) and 88 subjects (MFS) reported a decline in physical functioning. After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio of reduced physical functioning, as assessed by the TMIG-IC among the subjects who did not participate in the exercise group and those who did, were 1.00 (control) and 0.15 (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.75). Similar results were obtained when assessed on the MFS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that participation in a community-based exercise group of elderly people was effective in maintaining self-reported physical function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gotou
authors.forename: Kaijun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagatomi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010809:Physical Fitness