Motor abilities and functional capacity of community dwelling elderly - A five-year follow-up study

Abstract

The present study examined the relation between motor ability and functional capacity, five-year longitudinal changes in community dwelling elderly. The test subjects were to 42 females, aged 85 to 91, of Kasari town, Amami island. The test consisted of measurement of grip strength, knee strength, walking at maximum speed and functional capacity. An age-related decline in all parameters was confirmed over the five years. Significant correlations were detected between all parameters evaluated in 1999. Individual differences (coefficient of variation) in knee strength increased most, and an age-related decline was confirmed in mescle strength.