A Short-Duration Combined Exercise and Education Program to Improve Physical Function and Social Engagement in Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults

Abstract

Exercise is a key intervention for improving older adults’ physical function and life expectancy. Here, we investigated a short-term intervention program designed to improve the physical functioning of elderly adults in a community-dwelling setting. We examined the effect of a 5-week combined exercise and education program on the physical function, social engagement, mobility performance, and fear of falling in 42 subjects older than 65 years. Eleven subjects dropped out. There was significant improvement in the 30-second chair stand test ( p < .001) and timed up-and-go test ( p < .001) between the baseline and the last session. At the end of the intervention, the subjects’ social engagement was significantly higher than at baseline ( p = .022), but this improvement was not maintained in the follow-up assessment. These results suggest that a combined exercise and education program can improve the physical function and social engagement of elderly individuals living in a community dwelling.