Fig. 1

Maximal step-up height changes after a 3-month exercise intervention. a Maximal step-up height (MSH), i.e. the mean step-up height of left and right leg, for consecutively enlisted female patients referred to a 3-month intervention program of group training in primary health care. MSH from patients all three tests were plotted along a time axis, and the baseline measurement was put in relation to the start of the intervention project. A large spread of MSH values could be seen along both axes and high MSH was more often measured early on in intervention. b Maximal step-up height, i.e. the mean step-up height of left and right leg, for consecutively enlisted female patients referred to a 3-month intervention program of group training in primary health care. When all patients’ baseline measurements were plotted at the same place at the time axis, the significant positive change in MSH during the 3-month intervention program became apparent, as did the decline up until 14–30-month follow-up.