Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to clarify effects of continuous intervention (summer: 6 years; winter: 5 years) for physical activity of older persons, especially concerning their manner of walking, while evaluating the survey results.
Methods: The survey participants in the summer were eight older persons, while there were seven older persons who participated in the winter. The average age of the participants at the beginning of this survey in the summer was 69.8 ± 3.0 years (6 males and 2 females), while that in the winter was 69.7 ± 2.8 years (5 males and 2 females). We conducted basic physical measurements, along with measurements of physical fitness, actions connected with daily life activities, and walking functions twice a year (summer and winter). Additionally, nurses offered personalized health instructions regarding the changes in the measurement values and daily health conditions. Actions connected with daily life activities, and walking functions, which need extra data analysis from measurement values, were returned to each subject in written form with comment at a later date.
Result: The fat ratio decreased in the summer, while conversely in the winter an increase was shown. The grip strength of both hands declined only in the summer. The value of the single-leg stance with eyes open significantly decreased both in the summer and the winter at the end of the intervention. As for walking data, cycle durations were both decreased in the summer and the winter, and the walking speed was increased in the winter.
Conclusion: Our long-term follow-up survey confirmed that while there was decline in some physical measurement parameters, the values indicating the walking functions of the participants, the cycle duration and the speed were enhanced. Maintaining a high level of consciousness with regard to walking can lead to expected improvement in the walking functions of older persons.