Exercise habits and physical performance in aged city dwellers

Abstract

The relationship between exercise habit and physical fitness in aged individuals was studied in 179 urban residents aged 60∼89 years (82 males and 97 females) by a battery of physical performance tests. Eighty-seven point eight percent of the males and 88.5% of the females were regularly engaged in some kind of exercise, most frequently walking (45.8% of the males and 37.7% of the females), followed by tending plants, croquet, and light exercise (about 30% each). More strenuous exercise such as swimming, tennis, and jogging was done by 2∼3%. The results of the tests were better in individuals who exercised regularly than those who did not, and the differences were significant in grip strength, breath holding, and total score in the males and in all items except grip strength in the females. Physical performance also differed among those who exercised according to the frequency, duration, and intensity of the exercise, but the differences were smaller than between those who exercised and those who did not. From these findings, relatively mild exercise is considered to be effective for preventing (or delaying) the decline of physical fitness in aged individuals. © 1991, The Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine. All rights reserved.