Abstract
Activity levels decline with aging, resulting in many adverse effects. Regular physical activity produces beneficial effects in health. This study was planned to compare the balance, functional activity, and flexibility of elderly people performing flexibility exercises regularly with sedentary elderly people. Twenty-five subjects residing in rest home were accepted as group 1 and 21 subjects from physical medicine and rehabilitation inpatient clinic, were chosen as group 2. All the subjects were older than 65 years. Group 1 subjects performed range of motion exercises (ROM) 3 times a week for 4 months. Group 2 subjects had sedentary lifestyle. Balance, functional activity, and trunk flexibility were evaluated. Balance parameters were higher in group 1 but difference wasn't statistically significant. Functional activity and lateral flexions of trunk flexibility were significantly higher in group 1. It can be concluded that ROM exercises, when performed regularly, have beneficial effects mainly on functional ability and flexibility and some effects on balance.