Introduction:
Even very high quality clinical research does not show the functional state of elderly patients. Commonly used simple to implement functional tests are used for the analysis of this state. The aim of work was to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy in the elderly age as well as to verify and indicate the factors determining the effectiveness of improvement therapy process after clinical trial qualification and after 6 months of physiotherapy program.

Materials and methods:
The study group consisted of 30 elderly patients (18 female, 12 male) between 65 to 81 years ofage (mean age of 72  5.3). For evaluation of the state of the patients, selected elements of following tests were used: Takata, Fullerton Fitness Test and Tinnetti test.

Results:
16 patients (53%) achieved the maximum value in the Tinneti’s test. The up&go test was not performed by one female only. One leg stand test was not done by 2 persons (6,6%). Male patients had better results in palm grip muscle strength evaluated by dynamometric test. The greatest improvement in physical function was observed after a 6-month period of rehabilitation in the active group studied especially in the Fullerton test compared with the other groups.

Conclusions:
The research results are showing that previously described diagnostic methods seem to be useful in geriatric rehabilitation. Rehabilitation regularly carried out under the supervision of a specialist most effectively improves the functional status of patients.