Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the participants of the exercise and control group
| Variable | EG (n = 21) | CG (n = 22) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age [years] | 77.8 ± 3.6 | 79.2 ± 4.7 | .262 |
| Body mass index [kg/m2] | 25.0 ± 3.0 | 24.5 ± 1.9 | .515 |
| Total body fat [%] | 28.6 ± 5.8 | 30.5 ± 6.8 | .330 |
| Physical activity [index]a | 4.45 ± 1.32 | 4.15 ± 1.53 | .490 |
| Exercise per week [min] | 59 ± 56 | 46 ± 52 | .780 |
| Three (3) or more diseases [n]b | 10 | 12 | .826 |
| Hip and knee arthritis [n]b | 2 | 2 | .959 |
| Low back pain [n] | 3 | 4 | .527 |
| Diabetes mellitus type II [n] | 1 | 1 | .960 |
| Habitual gait velocity [m/s] | 1.25 ± 0.17 | 1.26 ± 0.15 | .703 |
| LLFDI [index] c | 1.51 ± 0.74 | 1.44 ± 0.53 | .727 |
| 25 (OH)D [nmol/l]d | 43.8 ± 17.5 | 54.0 ± 21.1 | .126 |
| Energy intake [MJ/d]e | 8.84 ± 1.71 | 9.39 ± 2.42 | .407 |
| Protein intake [g/kg/d]e | 1.10 ± 0.25 | 1.29 ± 0.34 | .043 |
| Calcium intake (mg/d)f | 802 ± 226 | 833 ± 282 | .636 |
| Smokers [n] | 3 | 4 | .959 |
CG control group; EG exercise group; significant p values are shown in bold
ascale from (1) “very low” to (7) “very high” [28]; b using the ICD-10 based disease cluster of Schäfer et al. [32]; c LLFDI (Late Life Function Disability Instrument) [33]: scale from (1) “no problem” to (5) “impossible”; d Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany; e as determined by a 4-day dietary record; f as determined by a Calcium Questionnaire provided by Rheumaliga, Switzerland)