Eight Months of Exercise Improves Balance, Mobility, Flexibility and Handgrip Strength in Elderly Women

Objective: Regular and group exercise helps older women maintain function, independence, and prevent falls. However, data on the long-term effects of structured community exercise programs remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an eight-month exercise program on balance, mobility, trunk flexibility, handgrip strength, body mass index (BMI), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in women Design and method: Prospective interventional study with paired baseline and 8-month assessments. Outcomes included balance, mobility, trunk flexibility, handgrip strength, body mass, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index. Skewed variables were analyzed using paired Wilcoxon tests and body mass index using a paired t-test Results: A total of 86 women (mean age 72.9 years) participated in the group exercise. After 8 months of participation, results showed improved balance: median Romberg increased from 7.69 to 9.83 seconds; Hodges-Lehmann change +1.41 seconds (95% CI +0.71 to +2.00); p < 0.0001. Mobility improved: median TUG test decreased from 8.70 to 7.97; change -0.48 (-0.70 to -0.25); p = 0.0002. Both were below the ten-second fall risk threshold, with a further shift towards lower risk. Flexibility improved: forward flexion decreased from 1.0 to 0.0; change -1.25 cm (-2.50 to 0.00); p = 0.0003. Lateral flexion to the right increased (median 12 to 14 cm; change +0.50, 0.00 to 1.50; p = 0.0418); the left showed a non-significant trend (12.5 to 14.0; +1.00, 0.00 to 1.50; p = 0.087). Handgrip strength increased in left hand 21.0 to 22.0 kg; +1.25 kg (0.50 to 2.00); p = 0.0009; while the right hand showed a marginal trend (23.0 to 24.0; +0.75, 0.00 to 1.50; p = 0.066). No significant changes were observed in body mass, SBP, or BMI (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: An eight-month exercise programe led to significant improvements in balance, mobility, flexibility, and handgrip strength, while BM, SBP, and BMI remained unchanged. These findings support continuous, structured exercise as a practical strategy for improving functional capacity and reducing fall risk in women, even without weight loss. Our results should be confirmed in large sample and longer follow-up period.