The steps per day, physical fitness and functional capacity of independent elderly women who attained the target step counts of the Public Health Recommendation of Health Japan 21 (the second term)

A cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the steps per day, physical fitness and functional capacity of independent elderly women ( ≥ 65 years) who attained the target step counts ( ≥ 6000 steps / day) of the Public Health Recommendation of Health Japan 21 (the second term). The participants included 146 elderly women (age : 75 ± 5 years). The participants who performed ≥ 6000 steps / day (73 ± 5 years, n = 83) and < 6000 steps / day (76 ± 5 years, n = 63) were classified into the high-step (HS) and low-step (LS) groups, respectively. The participants wore an accelerometer for 2 consecutive weeks to measure their daily physical activities.Their functional capacity was then assessed using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC). The physical fitness tests included handgrip strength, sit and reach, knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, stepping, one-leg standing time with eyes open, 10-m maximum walking speed (10MWS) and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG).The steps / day in the HS group (8536 ± 2135 steps / day) was significantly higher than that in the LS group (4097 ± 989 steps / day).The leg extensor power and one-leg standing time with eyes open scores of the HS group were significantly higher in comparison to the LS group. The average number of steps / day was significantly correlated with the 10MWS and TUG results in the LS group, but not the HS group. The present study suggests that the HS group had superior physical fitness, and that mobility gradually declines from a PA level of approximately 6000 steps / day as the number of steps decrease.