Physical-Fitness Declines in Older Japanese Adults

Abstract

This cross-sectional study determined physical-fitness levels of more than 1,000 Japanese older men and women, including 338 participants who were 75 years of age and older. Each participant performed 11 tests representing 4 domains of functioning (muscular, joint, neural, and respiratory). Two-way ANOVA was used to examine gender and age differences for each variable. Performance on every test decreased with advancing age, but the declines did not occur at a uniform rate. In addition, men and women did not decline at the same rate for each variable. Although leg strength, balance ability, and reaction time did not decline until after the age of 65, they exhibited the steepest decline of all the variables after age 75. These findings suggest that significant declines in physical fitness occur with advancing age, especially those that are related to mobility and risk for falls.

Agreement in depression determination among four self-rating depression scales applied to Japanese community-dwelling elderly

“…For the elderly, physical functional decline with aging causes inactivity in daily life, and directly influences their health status (1,2). In addition, the elderly have most likely experienced life events that negatively affect their mental health, such as retirement, loss of economic and social infrastructure, and bereavement for a deceased spouse, family members and close friends (3)(4)(5).…”

The Sensitivity of the Japan Fitness Test in Elderly People to Assess the Effects of Aging

“…According to the results of a study by Demura, et al (2003), it is assumed that the physical fi tness of the elderly rapidly declines from the age of about 75. To examine the sensitivity of the aging change to the six items of the Japan Fitness Test, the effect size (ES) of the respective items between two groups, one comprising an age range of 65-74 and the other of 75 or older was calculated.…”

“…With physical fi tness test items that were different from this study, Naka et al (1997), Minami et al (2001) and Demura et al (2003) have examined aging change of the elderly in muscle strength, fl exibility, balance, coordination, and cardio respiratory endurance in both genders. Findings suggest aging change in the respective components of physical fi tness was on the same level in both genders.…”

“…It has been proved that physical fi tness of elderly people decreases with aging (Naka, et al, 1997;van Heuvelen, et al, 2002;Demura, et al, 2003;Brandon, et al, 2004), and that this decline in their physical fi tness due to the aging change could be arrested through exercise training (Brandon, et al, 2004). So that the elderly may lead a vigorous life, certain exercise training needs to be taken to prevent their physical fi tness from declining, and to maintain their daily functions.…”

“…Therefore, the performance tests are preferable for the measurement of the elderly physical fi tness if the safety of the tests is fully guaranteed. Also, Demura, et al (2003) and Naka, et al (1997) describe the effects caused by aging in the elderly depend on such constructs of the health-related physical fi tness as muscle strength, muscular endurance, agility, balance, fl exibility, and cardio respiratory endurance, and that the degree of the effects is highest from the age of 75. In addition to the safety in conducting the performance tests and the reliability as well as the validity of the tests themselves, the sensitivity of the tests to refl ect effects caused by the aging change, is also required.…”