Association between exercise type and the decline in instrumental activities of daily living in community-dwelling older women: A 4-year prospective study

Exercise can delay the decline of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), although it remains unclear which specific exercise types are associated with such a delay. This 4-year prospective cohort study in Japan aimed to identify the longitudinal associations between exercise types and the onset of IADL decline in older women. Between 2008 and 2012, 1082 community-dwelling older women aged ≥75 years participated in this study. Participations in 16 exercise types based on a face-to-face interview at baseline were used as independent variables. The primary study outcome was a decline in IADL as assessed using the instrumental self-maintenance subscale of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology index of competence. An IADL decline was defined as a decrease of ≥1 point over the 4-year follow-up period and was used as the dependent variable. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confident intervals (CIs) for IADL decline based on participation or non-participation in each exercise type were obtained using logistic regression analyses. An IADL decline was observed in 151 participants (13.9%) over the 4-year follow-up period. After adjustment for potential confounders, participation in calisthenics had a significantly lower OR (0.62; 95% CI 0.42-0.90) for IADL decline. There were no significant associations between other specific exercise types and IADL decline. In conclusion, participation in calisthenics was significantly and independently associated with delayed IADL decline in older women aged ≥75 years. Thus, calisthenics may be a useful exercise to slow IADL decline in this age group.