Effects of Exercise Training on Functional Physical Fitness, Balance and Walking in the Community-dwelling Older Adults

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
This study aimed to determine whether a 12-week combined exercise intervention program with extra emphasis on balance, muscle strength, and walking ability was designed to improve functional fitness, balance, walking speed in community-dwelling older people.

Detailed Description
-----------------
1. Written informed consent must be obtained before any study specific procedures are undertaken. 2. The process of the experiment (brief describe) The 30 participants of the experimental group will be recruited from the community eldercare service activities, and this group will receive a 12-week combined exercise intervention program with extra emphasis on balance, muscle strength, and walking ability. The other 30 community-dwelling older people of the comparison group who have been involved in a other regular exercise style will not receive our exercise intervention. The comparison group only receives 2 times measurement at an interval of 12 weeks. Subjects completed medical histories, exercise histories, and information on lifestyles by questionnaire and physical examination before participation in the study to ensure they were free from exclusion criteria. The baseline measurements will be conducted before the exercise intervention. The experimental group will receive a 12-week combined exercise intervention program with extra emphasis on balance, muscle strength, and walking ability which involved two 2-hour sessions per week. The exercise program contained aerobic exercises, activities of balance, coordination exercises, strength training, and walking training. After 12 weeks group exercise, the experimental group will receive the second measurements.

Official Title
-----------------
Effects of Exercise Training on Functional Physical Fitness, Balance and Walking in the Community-dwelling Older Adults

Conditions
-----------------
Exercise

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: exercise intervention program


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Independent in basic daily living activities At least one or more given assistance in the instrumental Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of neurological disease or heart disease Assessment do not suitable resistance exercise training, or cannot perform intense activity by doctor

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 81 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Experimental group<br>The healthy elderly will be were recruited to participate in this study. All the subjects were independent in basic daily living activities, but at least one or more given assistance in the instrumental IADL assessment (ability to use telephone, shopping, food preparing, housekeeping, laundry, mode of transportation, responsibility for own medications, ability to handle finances). Their age should be ranged between 65 - 81 years. | Behavioral: exercise intervention program<br>* The experimental group will receive a 12-week combined exercise intervention program with extra emphasis on balance, muscle strength, and walking ability which involved two 2-hour sessions once per week.<br>|
| No Intervention: Comparison group<br>The healthy elderly will be were recruited to participate in this study. All the subjects were independent in basic daily living activities, but at least one or more given assistance in the instrumental IADL assessment (ability to use telephone, shopping, food preparing, housekeeping, laundry, mode of transportation, responsibility for own medications, ability to handle finances). Their age should be ranged between 65 - 81 years. | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in performance of Physical fitness at 12-week | Senior Fitness test (30-second Chair Stand, 30-second Arm Curl, 2-minute Step, Chair Sit and Reach and 8 Foot Up-and-Go) | The assessments will be conducted before, immediately after intervention for the experimental group; two times of these assessments to be at an interval of 12 weeks are conducted for the comparison group | 
| Changes in Balance and walking ability at 12-week | One leg standing, Five-repetition sit-to-stand test, Timed up-and-go test and Walking speed test | The assessments will be conducted before, immediately after intervention for the experimental group; two times of these assessments to be at an interval of 12 weeks are conducted for the comparison group |