Effects of Exercise Training on Functional Physical Fitness, Balance and Walking in the Community-dwelling Older Adults

Written informed consent must be obtained before any study specific procedures are undertaken.

The process of the experiment (brief describe)

The 30 participants of the experimental group will be recruited from the "community eldercare service" activities, and this group will receive a 12-week combined exercise intervention program with extra emphasis on balance, muscle strength, and walking ability. The other 30 community-dwelling older people of the comparison group who have been involved in a other regular exercise style will not receive our exercise intervention. The comparison group only receives 2 times measurement at an interval of 12 weeks.

Subjects completed medical histories, exercise histories, and information on lifestyles by questionnaire and physical examination before participation in the study to ensure they were free from exclusion criteria. The baseline measurements will be conducted before the exercise intervention.

The experimental group will receive a 12-week combined exercise intervention program with extra emphasis on balance, muscle strength, and walking ability which involved two 2-hour sessions per week. The exercise program contained aerobic exercises, activities of balance, coordination exercises, strength training, and walking training.

After 12 weeks group exercise, the experimental group will receive the second measurements.