The effect of regular exercise on functional capacity, risk of falling and quality of life in the old age

Practising regular exercise and activity in the elderly is the most important determiner for ageing in a healthy way. Also this situation has positive effect on quality of life of elderly people but it is known that improperly configured exercise programs are ineffective and can even lead to injuries. This research is planned to evaluate the effect of regular and configured exercise program in elderly on risc of falling, functional capacitiy, balance, muscle mass, muscle strength, and quality of life. Research sample consists of people whose received service from the Family Health Center No. 12 in Manisa Şehzadeler, ages are between 65-75 years old. Exercise (n: 38) and control (n: 35) groups were formed among the individuals who complied with the inclusion criteria, and voluntary for exercise practises. Group exercises are planned with the coach and researchers for one hour and once a week. Every exercise consists of warming, streching, balance, strengthening, and cooling down parts. An exercise booklet is given to each group member with offering to do the exercises in it; twice a week at their homes. Also they are asked for marking the parts that show falling situation and doing the exercise. Lawton Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Index, Tinetti Balance and Gait Test, SF 12 Quality of Life scale are applied at the beganing and the end of the sixth month. Also body fat and lean are meausered with bioelectric impedance analysis and looked for muscle strength with digital hand dynamometer. In exercise group, group members have significant improvements at their balance functions and quality of life after six months. At the same time lean and body fat percentiles are increased at the control group. Hand grip strength also got better in exercise group. As a result group exercise programmes and regular exercises at home which include muscle strengthing and balance for arms and legs with warming, streching must be offered in the old age.