title: Changes in the physical functions of pre-frail elderly women after participation in a 1-year preventative exercise program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study clarifies the effects of participation in a preventative health classroom program (exercise program) for 1 year on the physical functions of pre-frail elderly individuals in comparison with healthy elderly individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in the study included 28 elderly pre-frail female participants and 28 elderly healthy female participants. Participants engaged in the exercise program for 1 year. There was no significant age or physical differences between both groups. Before and after the exercise program, the following physical function tests were carried out: grip strength, one-legged balance with eyes open, 5-m walking time and a timed up & go (TUG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pre-frail elderly group tested significantly lower in the one-legged balance with eyes open test and the TUG test compared with the healthy elderly group. The 5-m walking time test improved significantly in both groups, but the TUG improved only in the pre-frail elderly group. Conversely, the grip strength and one-legged balance with eyes open tests remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in the TUG and 5-m walking time tests were found in the pre-frail elderly group after the 1-year exercise program. Their results in the TUG test might be greater than those among the healthy elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Women's University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demura
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimomura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: longitudinal study; physical function; pre-frail elderly; preventative exercise; timed up & go