The purpose of this study was to examine the sensitivity of the Japan Fitness Test for elderly people to assess the effects of aging. The participants were 250 male and 377 female, (627 in total) elderly people in residential care. The Japan Fitness Test consists of 6 test items

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This study examines the validity for estimating physical fi tness age (PFA) using the Japan Fitness Test through the application of single and multiple regression analyses and principal component analysis. The participants were 484 community-dwelling Japanese elderly men and women. A Physical fi tness test consisting of 6 performance tests, namely grip strength, sitting trunk fl exion, foot balance with opened eye, 10-m hurdle walk, sit-ups, and 6-min walk were used. Participants were divided into two groups for modeling PFA equations (n = 322) and for cross-validation of them (n = 162). The equation models for estimating the PFA were a single regression model with a physical fi tness test score, a multiple regression model with the 6 performance tests, and the fi rst principal component model obtained from the 6 performance tests. The validity of three PFA models was compared by concurrent validity with chronological age (CHA), cross-validity using shrinkage, and degree of agreement between aging effect for physical fi tness and the correlation coeffi cients of PFA and CHA. Results of statistical analyses reveal that the three PFA models satisfy concurrent validity and cross-validity, but the single regression PFA model detected a greater degree of agreement for aging than the other models.

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of constructing a new test by analyzing the item characteristic of motor function and physical independence ADL tests based on the item response theory (IRT). Subjects were 137 males and 198 females, aged over 65 years old. The average of age was 69.2±5.4 years old (male 70.4±5.5, female 68.7 ±5.2). The physical independence and the motor function ADL test were consisted of 15 items with 2 options. Unidimesionality of physical independence and motor function ADL tests were satisfi ed for item characteristic analysis. Item diffi culty and item discrimination were calculated by using two-parameter logistic model. Item characteristic curves, item information functions, test characteristic curves, and test information functions were obtained from the item diffi culty and the item discrimination. In the new test, 70% of the whole subjects were able to achieve 80% or more based on the item characteristic. The item diffi culty, the item discrimination, and the amount of item information of each item were confi rmed. Eighty % of the whole subjects were able to achieve 80% or more in physical independence ADL test. Fifty % of the whole subjects were able to achieve 80% or more in motor function ADL test. It was concluded that the new test satisfi ed target test characteristics could be composed from previous test items applying IRT techniques.