Preventive care program for the elderly, including physical fitness tests and health checks at day-care centers - DOKUSA UP Program -
Department of Physical Therapy（Aging and Health Science Laboratory）
Makizako Hyuma,Kiyama Ryoji
- tatsugou
Background and objectives of activities
Conditions that involve a decline in physical functions, such as frailty and sarcopenia (a decrease in muscle mass and muscle strength), increase the risk of requiring long-term care, so it is important to take measures to maintain these functions and to detect and treat them at an early stage. On remote islands, health support projects for residents have been implemented by local governments, but it is hoped that the results of these projects will be used to further contribute to the development of administrative measures based on scientific evidence.
Summary of Activities
We will hold annual health checks for the physical and mental functions of elderly residents living in Tatsugo Town, and provide feedback to the individuals concerned. We will also analyze changes over time by conducting the checks on an ongoing basis. The main evaluation items will include physical functions such as muscle strength, balance and walking ability, as well as body composition such as muscle mass and fat mass. We will also assess frailty, sarcopenia and the presence or absence of locomotive syndrome based on these physical function evaluations. We will assess the physical function of residents of remote islands, and contribute to the development of health support measures based on these analyses.
Expected Benefits
・Extension of healthy life expectancy
・Reduction of people requiring long-term care
・Creation of healthy towns