MOTOR ABILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE URBAN ADULTS / 体力科学

ABSTRACT

Bulk of informations regarding the fitness researches indicates the general tendency of decrease of physical fitness level among urban adults, especially the middle and high ages. Development of simple and unsophisticated testing methods from which lower extremity fitness may be easily evaluated is a matter of urgent necessity. For this reason, the following test items were examined and proved to be valid for the testing purpose.<BR>1) Twisting strength against resistance at the hips by use of transducer apparatus<BR>2) Maximum height of single leg step up<BR>3) Maximum height of single leg step down<BR>4) Relationship between the height of chair from which the subject stands up without using upper extremities and the degree of trunk forward leaning<BR>5) Maximum time length of single leg stand while 80% body weight is loaded<BR>6) Foot dorsi flexion strength In addition, effect of daily training using some of the above mentioned tests was confirmed among middle and high age subjects.<BR>The characteristics of strength exertion was further studied in order to provide fundamental informations for the tests developed. Upon obtaining strength exertion pattern along with time course, a curve figure was constructed in which the difference between the maximum tension (Pmax) and tension recorded at arbitrary time (P), hence Pmax-P, was placed on the ordinate and the time by logarhythmic unit was placed on the abscissa. The strength curve, when demonstrated in this manner, was formed to be composed of three linear parts, indicating this recording method is useful in analyzing the characteristics of strength exertion.<BR>Whether performance drop curve during 30 seconds exercise may indicate 5 minutes endurance exercise was, then examined. The results indicated that repetitive muscular contractions for 30 seconds may be more valid than continuous contraction for 30 seconds in predicting muscular endurance of the middle and high age subjects.