The Relationship between Physical Functions and Psychological Factors in Community-dwelling Frail Elderly.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between physical functions and psychological factors in community-dwelling frail elderly. [Subjects] Subjects were 170 elderly persons who participated in an exercise program for frailties. [Methods] Walking abilities, balance functions, and muscle functions of the lower and upper extremities were assessed. We evaluated relationships between physical functions and psychological factors such as Health-related Quality of Life (HR-QOL), falls self-efficacy and so on by partial correlation coefficient analysis. [Results] Some physical functions showed significant relationships with psychological factors, but those relations were moderate or weak. [Conclusion] Although we supposed that there were some relations between physical and psychological functions, a more multiphasic evaluation might be needed to produce more conclusive evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]