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Abstract

Aging is associated with declines in functional fitness and cognitive function, which may impact the quality of life in older adults. Developing a safe and active training program as an initial strategy is critical for the elderly population to maintain physical and mental well-being. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week chair-based exercise intervention on functional fitness, cognitive function, and nutritional status in older female adults. METHODS: Thirty-six healthy female participants aged 55 to 80 years were randomly assigned to the exercise group (Ex, N=19; Age: 64±1 years; BMI: 24.7±0.8 kg/m²) or the control group (CTRL, N=17; Age: 66±1 years; BMI: 24.6±0.7 kg/m²). The Ex group participated in a structured chair-based exercise program twice per week, with each 60-minute session comprising a 10-minute warm-up (joint mobility and large muscle activities), a 35-minute progressive chair-based workout focusing on upper/lower limb muscular endurance using water bottles and body weight resistance, and a 15-minute stretching cooldown. The CTRL group received health education materials and maintained their usual lifestyle. The intervention was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Assessments included body composition, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), exercise heart rate response, functional fitness (static balance, grip strength, cardiopulmonary fitness), and cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA). RESULTS: The chair-based exercise program effectively increased heart rate response compared to the control group, who followed self-directed activities based on health education materials (Ex: 1786 bpm x min vs. CTRL: 1346 bpm x min, p0.05). Functional fitness improved significantly in the Ex group, including static balance (+484% above CTRL, p=0.048) and cardiopulmonary fitness (+74.3% above CTRL, p=0.047), while grip strength showed a trend toward improvement (+134% above CTRL, p=0.063). Cognitive function, measured by MoCA, was significantly improved in the Ex group compared to the CTRL group (+1.49 score above CTRL, p=0.024). CONCLUSION: A 12-week chair-based exercise program featuring chair support to enhance stability and prevent falls during dynamic exercise significantly improved physical activity levels, functional fitness, and cognitive function in older females. The findings highlight its potential as a safe and effective intervention for healthy aging.

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