The Effects of a Calligraphy and Exercise Program on Korean Elders' Self-esteem, Stress, Quality of Life and Physical Health

PURPOSE: This study was conduct to develop a calligraphy and exercise program and examine its effects on the self-esteem, stress, quality of life and physical health of the elderly in a community health post in Korea. METHOD: The subjects consisted of 43 elders (experimental group: 20, control group: 23) who were attending the program of a community health post. The experimental group participated in the calligraphy and exercise program for 12 weeks (3 times a week, 120 minutes a session). Data were collected before and after the program. RESULTS: 1) The experimental group showed significant improvement in self-esteem and quality of life and significant reduction in stress compared to the control group. 2) The experimental group and the control group were not significantly different in muscle strength and flexibility. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the calligraphy and exercise program for old adults can improve their psychological health and quality of life.

The Evaluation of a Program to Promote Healthy Joints in Older Adults Residing in the Community / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted from March to August, 2003 to evaluate the process and outcomes of a program to promote healthy joints in older adults residing in the community. METHOD: A quasi experimental research design (one group pretest-posttest design) was used in this study. The participants were 26 older adults (but 74 older adults also participated in a program immediately after the study program). Program had 4 sessions (8 hours) once a week. Data were collected before the program, immediately after and 4 weeks after the program was completed and were analyzed with paired t-test. RESULTS: The level of a satisfaction, interest and understanding of the program were high. Significant differences were found in the health state, the flexibility of neck and shoulder joints and joint exercise habits between the scores before the program started and 4 weeks after it finished. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the joint health promotion program for older adults in the community developed this study is effective. So this program can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for joint health promotion in older adults living in the community.

A Study on Health Status of Joints in Elderly People / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the subjective health status of joints, flexibility of joints, muscle strength and state of joint exercise in elderly people living in the community. METHOD: The participants were 74 elderly people in a health program of the Gerontological Health Research Center at G University. The data were collected from March to July, 2003. The instrument for the study included items on general characteristics (5 items), subjective health status of joints (10 items), flexibility of joints and strength of muscle (8 items), and state of joint exercise (7 items). RESULTS: The score for subjective health status of joints was 3.70 (range 1-5). Knee and waist joints were in the worst state. Neck extension and flexion were 17.38+/-1.80 and .60+/-1.08(cm) respectively. Trunk extension and flexion were 68.24+/-4.47 and 58.00+/-4.91(cm) respectively. Flexibility of the Rt./Lt. shoulder joints was 14.63+/-12.51/18.82+/-13.80(cm). Muscle strength of the Rt./Lt. leg was 30.47+/-19.68/29.67+/-21.22 (sec.). Shoulder joints were more flexible for men and people in their sixties compared to women and people in their seventies. Hand grip was stronger for men compared to women. The score for state of joint exercise was 2.83(range 1-4). The state of handgrip correlated with the state of joint exercise [r=.423 (Rt.)/r=.273(Lt.)]. CONCLUSION: To prevent falls and disorders in neuromuscular function, it is important to develop systemic joint exercise programs for elderly people.