[Mobility performance in the third stage of life: interventional study of flexibility training in persons aged between 61 to 88 years].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of increasing flexibility in elderly persons by using a moderate gymnastics training programme.


METHODS
In this study 53 persons were divided into an intervention and a control group and tested at three time points for flexibility of the lower and upper extremities. The intervention group participated in a training programme that promoted flexibility, strength and coordinative abilities. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) examined the effect of the intervention and hierarchical regression analyses were carried out to identify possible predictors for the effectiveness of the training programme.


RESULTS
The participants of the intervention group showed significant increases in flexibility of lower and upper extremities compared to the control group. No sociodemographic predictors for the advantages of the intervention could be seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Flexibility can be increased up to third stage of life and trainability does not seem to be influenced by sociodemographic factors.
Institut für Gerontologie, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Bergheimer Str. 20, 69115, Heidelberg, Deutschland. volker.cihlar@gero.uni-heidelberg.de
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome