SingHealth Polyclinics - Functional Strength Building of Older Persons

It assesses the functional mobility of an older adult's lower extremities in three domains (static balance, gait speed and chair stands). Balance is evaluated via the duration which participant can maintain side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem stances. Gait speed is measured by duration taken by the participant to walk 3 meters at their usual pace. Lower limb strength is assessed using the chair stand test, which records the time taken to complete five consecutive sit-to-stand movements from an armless chair with the participants' arms folded across the chest.

It is assessed using a handgrip dynamometer, with participants' elbows flexed at 90 degrees with the forearm in neutral position, squeezing the device as hard as possible with their left and right hands. The average recorded value from two measurements was used for analysis of this study

30-Seconds Sit-to-Stand repetitions is a measure of lower limb strength, endurance, and functional fitness. It is performed by recording the maximum number of times a participant can stand up fully and sit down from an armless chair within 30 seconds, with their arms folded across their chest. A higher number of repetitions indicate better functional capacity

Participants reported their physical activity based on an interviewer-administered IPAQ-SF during the enrolment visit, 6-month and 12-month after the start of the structured exercise programme.

The IPAQ-SF is a validated instrument widely used as a measure of physical activity. The questionnaire contains 8 items, which assesses the frequency and duration of physical activity across domains such as sitting, walking, moderate-intensity activities and vigorous intensity activities. Based on the responses, the total metabolic equivalent (MET)-minutes per week is calculated, and participants are categorised into low, moderate, or high physical activity levels. There is no minimum or maximum value of MET-minutes per week as this is based on the participants' responses.

A researcher-developed satisfaction survey was used to assess participants' satisfaction with the sessions, instructors, venue, pace, exercises, and the perceived effects of FABULOS on their health.