Developing an assessment based on physical fitness age to evaluate motor function in frail and healthy elderly women

Masaki Nakagaichi,1 Yuya Anan,2 Yuto Hikiji,3 Sou Uratani4 1Sports and Life Sciences, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in KANOYA, Kanoya, Japan; 2Department of Nutritional Health, Kwassui Women’s University, Nagasaki, Japan; 3Department of Rehabilitation, Nagasaki Yuai Hospital, Kyoseikai Medical Corporation, Nagasaki, Japan; 4Nonprofit Organization Nagasaki Wellness Sports Research Center, Nagasaki, Japan Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify a method for assessing physical fitness age that is easy to use with both frail and healthy elderly women and to examine its validity.Methods: Principal component analysis was used to develop a formula of physical fitness age from four motor function variables. The subjects comprised 688 (75.7±6.0 years) elderly women, in order to develop a physical fitness scale. The formula for calculating physical fitness age was expressed as physical fitness age =-0.419× grip strength -0.096×balancing on one leg with eyes open-0.737×30s chair stand +0.503×figure-of-8 walking test +0.47× chronological age +52.68.Results: Measures obtained from subjects in the frail elderly (n=11, 73.0±2.3 years) and exercise (n=10, 70.8±3.1 years) groups were used to examine the validity of the assessment. The mean physical fitness age of the frail elderly group (79.0±3.7 years) was significantly higher than its mean chronological age (73.0±2.3 years, p