Association Between Function-focused Training and Physical Function Among Community-dwelling Oldest-old Individuals:...

To examine the 12-month relationship between physical function-focused training and lower-limb function among community-dwelling elderly.

In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 93 adults aged ≥ 65 years (median age 85.0 years; 74.2% women) who attended a function-focused day service at least once per week and completed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) at baseline and 12 months were included.

Each 105-minute session consisted of 80 minutes of group training for flexibility, strength, and balance, and 25 minutes of individualized machine-based aerobic, resistance, and flexibility training. The primary outcome was the 12-month change in SPPB total score; secondary outcomes included SPPB subscores and grip strength. Participants were categorized according to change in SPPB as Improved (≥ +1 point), Maintained (0), or Deteriorated (≤ -1 point).

Median SPPB total score remained stable (10.0 [7.0-12.0] to 10.0 [7.5-12.0]; Hodges-Lehmann change, 0.0 [0.0-0.5]; p =  0.76); 34 participants (36.6%) improved, 32 (34.4%) maintained, and 27 (29.0%) deteriorated. The Improved group showed increases in balance and chair-stand scores, while all subscores declined in the Deteriorated group. Grip strength decreased significantly in the total group but remained stable within the Improved group.

These findings suggest that low-frequency, low-intensity function-focused training performed at least once per week may help maintain lower-limb function, even among community-dwelling oldest-old individuals.