Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) increases respiratory muscle strength and endurance, improves exercise tolerance, dyspnea, and health-related quality of life. IMT is mainly performed with inspiratory resistance loading, and in addition to the threshold type (fixed loading method), a new type of equipment, the tapered type (gradual loading method), has recently been introduced.

　Recently, IMT has been developed in the field of sports. In the field of sportsmen's exercise-related respiratory disorders, the causes of exercise-related respiratory symptoms include cardiovascular disease, physical limitations (athletic ability and obesity), asthma/exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, breathing pattern disorder (BPD), exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO). IMT has received considerable attention in improving sports performance, with effects including increased endurance, improved respiratory efficiency, decreased lactic acid accumulation, increased muscular power, improved recovery, improved mental health, and increased laryngeal function. IMT has been reported to improve endurance, respiratory efficiency, lactate accumulation, muscle power, recovery, and psychological effects. In the future, IMT training protocols (degree, frequency, duration, type, and individualization) in the field of sports will need to be optimized. The optimization of IMT training protocols (degree, frequency, duration, type, and individualization) in the sports domain is needed.

　Objectives: To investigate the effects of short-term specialized rehabilitation comprising functional training on body composition indicators and physical function over a period of 2 years in elderly patients from the perspective of need for professional care.

　Methods: A total of 63 patients attending the facility were enrolled. These were classified as Group 1 (44 people) or Group 2 (19 people). These were further classified into a Requiring Support category (42 patients) or a Transitioned to Requiring Long-term Care category (21 patients) based on change over a 2-year period. Factors affecting this change were examined, including their skeletal muscle mass index score, 5-meter walking speed, and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) score.

　Results: Of those remaining in the Requiring Support category, 30 (68％) were from Group 1 and 12 (63％) were from Group 2, from which 14 and 7 patients transitioned to the Requiring Long-term Care category, respectively. The TUG significantly shortened in those remaining in the Requiring Support category (42 people), and it either prolonged or remained unchanged in those transiting to the Requiring Long-term Care category (21 patients).

　Conclusion: Specialized rehabilitation comprising functional training at the support stage reduces the TUG score, an indicator of risk of fall, suggesting that this program helps maintain the level of care required and supports the patient's ability to perform daily life functions.