Abstract: The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between the habit of going out and physical functioning in 30 elderly females in need of nursing care undergoing outpatient rehabilitation. As a baseline survey, their grip strength, walking speed, ADL (activities of daily living), and TUG (Timed up and go test) and FRT (Functional reach test) scores were assessed, and a follow-up survey was conducted in one and a half years to measure and compare these abilities between the elderly who did and did not go out on a regular basis. The results were as follows: Although ADL and standing balance scores in the “going out" group were markedly higher compared to the “not going out" group, there was no significant difference in the age, grip strength, and walking ability between the two groups. The results suggest that it is important for elderly females in need of nursing care to maintain their level of ADL and standing balance ability to retain the ability to go out walking on their own in the neighborhood.
