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Background/Objective: Frailty is a significant health concern in the aging population, particularly in Japan's super-aging society. Community-based interventions show promise in frailty prevention; however, their effectiveness requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a continuous municipal rehabilitation program on frailty status and physical function in older adults living in suburban Japan. Methods: This prospective observational study included 52 participants aged ≥ 65 years (13 males and 39 females) who underwent assessments at baseline and after six months. Participants were divided into Pre-old (65–74 years) and Older (≥75 years) groups. Frailty was assessed using the Kihon checklist (KCL), and physical function was evaluated using the New Physical Fitness Test. Changes in frailty status, physical function, and KCL subcategories were analyzed. Results: Frailty prevalence decreased significantly from baseline to 6 months (21.2% to 7.7%, p = 0.018). In the Pre-old group, significant improvements were observed in the sit-up (p = 0.035) and six-minute walking (p = 0.017) scores. The Older group showed significant improvements in KCL lifestyle (p = 0.023) and physical function (p = 0.018). Seven of ten initially frailty participants transitioned to a non-frailty status after 6 months. Conclusions: The Co-Creative Well-being System was associated with a reduction in frailty prevalence and improvements in physical function, with age-specific benefits observed. This community-based approach presents a promising strategy for addressing frailty in aging populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of a strength and balance enhancing exercise intervention as a means of preventing falls in community-dwelling elderly Japanese women with a history of falls, while comparing functional fitness, fall and fracture rate in excluded subjects. Methods A 1-year follow-up trial was carried out on 105 participants over the age of 70 years, who were randomly assigned to the exercise or education group, and also on 91 women excluded based on the exclusion criteria. The exercise group attended a 60-min exercise class twice a week for 3 months. Falls, injuries, fractures, and functional fitness assessments were measured at baseline, post-intervention and 1-year follow up. Results During the follow up, fall rates were 19.6% in the exercise group, 40.4% in the education group and 40.8% in excluded subjects (χ2 = 7.069, P = 0.029). Compared with the exercise group, the odds ratio ( OR) for falls was greater in the education group ( OR 2.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.17-6.96) and excluded participants ( OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.25-6.80). The OR for fractures was over fourfold greater in excluded participants (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.02-9.70) than the exercise group. Conclusions The exercise intervention for participants with fall history effectively decreased incidences of falls and fractures. However, fall and fracture rates in excluded people were high. Further research focusing on feasible countermeasures for falls in excluded people who are at high risk of fractures is required. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 14: 285-292. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]