Longitudinal Changes in the Physical Fitness Levels of 80-Year-Old People: A 10-Year Follow-Up

• Published in: Journal of aging and physical activity 2008-07, Vol.16, p.S21-S21
• Main Authors: Shimada, M, Kimura, Y, Nakagawa, N, Sato, T, Inaba, D, Yonemitsu, M, Saigo, K, Saito, K, Yoshitake, Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1063-8652

Background: Little is known about age-related decline in physical fitness of 80-year-old individuals. The purpose of this study was to describe the longitudinal (10-yr) decline in physical fitness of 80-year-old people. Methods: In 1997, 607 (236 men and 371 women) Japanese individuals of 994 who were exactly 80 years old and resided in Iwate Prefecture of Japan underwent a physical fitness test including handgrip strength, one-leg standing time with eyes open, and stepping rate. The subjects were thereafter followed up every 5 years over the 10-year period from 1997 to 2007. A total of 68 subjects performed the physical fitness test every 5 years (including 25 men and 43 women) and therefore were investigated in 2007. Maximal handgrip strength was measured in each hand using a Smedley dynamometer. The best value in two trials for each hand was taken as the score for the test. One-leg standing time was measured with the eyes open. This time represented the number of seconds until the subject had to hop, until the raised foot was lowered to the floor, or until 2 min had elapsed. Stepping rate was measured using an industrial stepping-rate counter; while sitting, the subject was instructed to step with each leg as rapidly as possible for 10 s. The stepping rate for both legs was summed as the subject's score. Results: The mean values for handgrip strength at 80, 85, and 90 years of age were 34.1 plus or minus 4.1, 27.0 plus or minus 8.8, 29.0 plus or minus 5.8 kg for men and 22.1 plus or minus 3.7, 18.0 plus or minus 4.2, 18.1 plus or minus 3.7 kg for women, respectively. During the 5-year follow-up period from 1997 to 2002, 2 women could not perform the one-leg standing test with their eyes open. During the 5-year follow-up period from 2002 to 2007, 14 women could not perform the one-leg standing test with their eyes open. The mean values for one-leg standing time with eyes open at 80, 85, and 90 years of age were 32.7 plus or minus 29.6, 12.7 plus or minus 10.4, 6.3 plus or minus 5.3 s, respectively, for men. The mean values for the one-leg standing time with eyes open at 80, 85, and 90 years of age were 15.9 plus or minus 24.2, 8.3 plus or minus 9.3, 5.7 plus or minus 7.0 s, respectively, for women who were able to perform this test three times. The mean values for the stepping rate at 80, 85, and 90 years of age were 74.4 plus or minus 10.9, 63.7 plus or minus 18.9, 65.1 plus or minus 13.7 times per 10 s for men and 62.6 plus or minus 11.6, 42.8 plus or