The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week exercise programme on the functional status of institutionalised elderly people. Fifteen subjects from two residential homes were assigned to either a control or an exercise group: siz exercisers (mean +/- SD) 88 +/- 5 years and nine controls, 87 +/- 4 years. The exercise sessions were carried out twice a week for 12 weeks. The variables measured were distance walked in 15 seconds, single and triple chair rise, and timed stair ascent and descent (all timed using a stop watch). The exercise sessions consisted of a seven-minute warm-up, a circuit (including walking, chair rising, stair ascent and descent) and a ten-minute cool-down. Paired sample and two sample t-tests were used to assess changes. The exercise group improved significantly in all variables post-intervention, while the control group improved significantly in timed stair ascent and timed single chair rise. The exercise group did not significantly improve over the controls in any of the variables, except for walking. Confidence intervals of 95% showed that on average, the exercisers improved between 2 and 5 metres more than the controls in the walking test. The improvement in walking performance in the exercise group may result in increased physical activity and an enhanced lifestyle.

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