RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAILY STEPS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERY / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the pedometer-determined steps per day and physical fitness in order to evaluate the usefulness of the pedometer-determined physical activity to help individuals meet the recommended exercise target level of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). The subjects consisted of 222 men and 172 women aged 71 years in community-dwelling elderly. The subjects wore a pedometer for 7 consecutive days to measure daily steps. The functional capacity was assessed based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) and self-reported performance of tasks (stair-climbing and chair-rising). Physical fitness tests included handgrip strength, knee extensor strength, leg extensor power, stepping, one-leg standing time with eyes open and maximal walking speed at 10 m. The men and women took on average 6,561±2,907 and 6,329±2,451 steps/day, respectively. Our subjects seemed to be highly functioning elderly, because the total scores of TMIG-IC (maximum : 13 scores) were on average 12 for men and women. The average of steps/day was significantly correlated with stair-climbing, chair-rising and knee extensor strength in men and women, and with body weight, body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%Fat) and leg extensor power in women. The BMI and %Fat levels were significantly lower while the handgrip strength and knee extensor strength were significantly higher in women who attained to the level of the pedometer-determined physical activity as recommended by the MHLW.The present study suggests that both men and women who take a lot of steps on a daily basis tend to demonstrate excellent leg strength and thus have a good ability to perform the tasks of daily living. In addition, the degree of obesity tends to be lower in women who regularly take a lot of steps. In addition, the number of daily steps taken has been recognized to be linked to gender, and such a link has also been suggested to be stronger in women than in men.

Effect of Korean Traditional Dance Movement Training on Balance, Gait and Leg Strength in Home Bound Elderly Women / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.

Effect of Korean Traditional Dance Movement Training on Balance, Gait and Leg Strength in Home Bound Elderly Women / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.

Effect of Walk Training on Physical Fitness for Prevention in A home Bound Elderly / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of walk training on leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait in home bound elderly women. Eighteen elderly women of the experimental group aged between 70 and 90 years image who have normal vision, hearing and Romberg test. They participated in the 12 week walk training. The subjects of the experimental group practiced walk training 3 times a week for during 12 weeks. During the 40 minute workout, the subjects practiced 5 minutes of warming-up exercises, 30 minutes of conditioning exercises and 10 minutes of a cool-down exercise. The intensity for the conditioning phase was determined by subject' heart rates, which ranged from 60% to 70% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The body composition, leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. The body fat, lean body mass, leg strength (ankle dorsiflexor, plantarflexor, inversor and eversir, knee flexor, extensior), flexibility (range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion and eversion), and postural stability of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group. Duration of standing on the right foot and that of standing on the left foot of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Among 13 items for balance, the scores of experimental group in balance with eyes closes, turning balance, sternal nudge, neck turning, one leg standing balance and back extension were higher than those of the control group. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the walking training. Scores of experimental group in step height, step length and walk stance while walking among 9 items for gait were significantly higher than those of the control group. The results suggest that walk training can improve physical fitness for prevention in home bound elderly women.

Leg strength and weight training in elderly patients with myocardial infarction / 体力科学

The present two studies were aimed at investigating the necessity of weight training in elderly patients with myocardial infarction.<BR>Study 1 investigated the muscle strength and incidence of gait disorders in 300 patients with myocardial infarction. The age-and gender-related differences in knee extension peak torque were significant (p<0.01) . Peak torque in the 70-79 and 80-89 yr-old women was extremely low (0.88, 0.75N·mm/kg) . Gait disorders occurred frequently in older patients amounting to approximately 30% of women>70 years of age.<BR>Study 2 was conducted to clarify the effects of combined aerobic and weight training. 35 elderly patients with myocardial infarction were assigned to two groups : Group I performed combined aerobic and weight training (n=18) and group II did not perform physical training (n =17) . Physical training was prescribed for 8 weeks. Weight training of knee extensors was performed at 60% of one repetition maximum and aerobic training was prescribed at the anaerobic threshold (AT) level heart rate. After 8 weeks, the improvement in peak torque and gait speed was significantly greater in group I (32%, 12%) than group II (9%, 3%) . The improvement in peak VO<SUB>2</SUB>, exercise time, AT was significantly greater in group I than group II. Increased peak torque was associated with increased gait speed and exercise time (modified protocol) (r=0.71, r=0.53) . On the other hand, increased peak torque was not associated with increased peak VO<SUB>2</SUB> and AT. Combined aerobic and weight training is an effective method for increasing muscle strength, gait speed and exercise capacity.<BR>In conclusion, physical training in the recovery phase of elderly patients with myocardial infarction should include weight training.

The influence of leg length discrepancy on the pelvic obliquity, scoliosis, leg strength, and leg injury in track and field athletes / 体力科学

Fifty-two trained athletes (15 short-distance runners, 20 long-distance runners, and 17 jumpers) and 5 controls were examined for leg length discrepancy, pelvic obliquity, scoliosis, leg strength discrepancy, and leg injury. Forty-seven subjects (90%) in the trained group and 4 subjects (80%) in the control group had leg length discrepancies. Differences of the femur lengths and tibia lengths, not of the joint space or soft tissue, were main factors of leg length discrepancies. There were no significant differences in leg length discrepancy and in pelvic obliquity between the trained and control groups. The trained group had twice as many leg length discrepancies and pelvic obliquities as the control group in average. A positive correlation between leg length discrepancy and pelvic obliquity was noted (p<0.001) . Among the jumpers, those who had suffered from hamstring muscle strain showed significantly more discrepancies in the right and left knee flexion strengths than the jumpers who had never experienced such muscle strain (p<0.41) . The rate of knee flexion strength against extension strength was significantly lower in the jumpers who had experienced knee joint injuries (p<0.01) .<BR>The results indicate that leg length discrepancy affects on the pelvic obliquity and scoliosis. Differences of the femur lengths and tibia lengths were main factors of length discrepancy. It is possible that an inequality of load on the right and left legs may cause leg length discrepancy.