Effect of Age on Physical Function Improvement in Older Veterans Enrolled in the Gerofit Exercise Program

Aging is associated with declines in strength, balance, and mobility that contribute to falls, disability, and loss of independence. While exercise interventions improve physical function, limited data exist on community-dwelling adults aged 90 years and older. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of age on physical function improvement following participation in an exercise program for older Veterans.

We analyzed baseline and 3-month follow-up physical function data from 62 community-dwelling Veterans aged 60-99 years enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Gerofit, a supervised, individualized exercise program incorporating aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility training. Outcomes included lower extremity strength (30-s chair stands), mobility and balance (8-foot up-and-go), and cardiovascular endurance (6-min walk). Participants were grouped by age (60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90-99). Paired samples t-tests assessed changes over time, and repeated-measures general linear models examined the effect of age on physical function improvement.

Across all participants, significant improvements were observed in chair stand and 8-foot up-and-go performance (both p < 0.001), whereas 6-min walk distance did not change significantly (p = 0.14). Chair stand performance improved in all age groups, including adults aged 90-99 (p < 0.01). Although baseline physical function declined with age, we did not detect differences in the rate of improvement in chair stand performance by age group (p = 0.69). Improvements in 8-foot up-and-go performance were observed in younger age groups and not in participants aged 90-99 years.

Participation in a supervised exercise program was associated with significant improvements in lower extremity strength across all age groups, including adults aged 90-99 years. These findings support the inclusion of even the oldest adults in exercise programs to promote physical function.