2004 Volume 70 Issue 5 Pages 196-206
To evaluate the physical fitness status required for active life, an appropriate index needs to be developed. The purpose of this study was to develop an equation for assessing the physical fitness status of older Japanese men. The subjects were 317 older Japanese men living independently, aged 70.3 ± 5.3 years, who completed eight physical fitness tests related to activity of daily living (ADL), upper limb strength, whole body locomotion, and change of posture. Applying principal component analysis for the eight physical fitness items, the first principal component was interpreted as total physical fitness. The equation developed for the estimation of physical fitness age (PFA) based on the first principal component coefficient was PFA=-5.78 PFS + 0.653 CA+24.4, where PFS=0.021x1-0.183x2+0.016x3+0.0164+0.040x5-0.041x6+0.0237+0.087x8-2 .415, CA=chronological age (yr), x1=grip strength (kg), x2=stand-up from lying position (s), x3=balancing on one leg with eyes closed (s), x4=sit and reach (cm), x5=arm curl (n/30s), x6=walking around two cones in a figure 8 (s), x7=functional reach (cm), and x8=chair stand (n/30s). Change of PFA were then assessed in 53 subjects (70.9 ± 5.5 yr) after 6 months and over. The change of PFA (mean=+0.6 yr) was not significantly different from the change of their chronological age (mean=+0.8 yr). In conclusion, this index may help us to assess the physical fitness status of older men. And PFA has both advantage and disadvantage points, so it is necessary to give subjects a good follow-up.
