Study on the Effects of Muscle Training by Community Inhabitants on Medical Economy

We researched the medical expenditure of the elderly who participated in exercise group (aerobic exercise and muscle exercise), comparing control subjects who matched sex and birth year with exercise groups in 2 cities and 2 towns. We calculated the cumulative medical expenditures from the previous years. In result, yearly cumulative medical costs of control subjects increased more than exercise groups in all test areas. Similar tendencies were shown in medical costs of each year's May in 2 cities. In another town we compared medical expenditures of elderly people between 3 different types of exercise groups: muscle exercise using their own body weight, quoits, and Swiss ball exercise. Medical costs of muscle exercise group increased less although not significantly. In conclusion, cumulative medical costs are useful for evaluating effects of exercise on medical economy, and the exercise, especially muscle exercise using their own body weight, might reduce the medical costs among the elderly.