THE STATE AND PROBLEM ON HEALTH PROMOTION SYSTEM BY EXERCISE IN JAPAN / 体力科学

ABSTRACT

In order to establish a health promotion program for Taiyo Village in Ibaragi Prefecture, we initiated a research project at University of Tsukuba in 1996. The purpose of this research project are as follows : 1) Examine health promotion in the independent elderly, who make up the majority of the elderly population ; 2) Develop measures to prevent strokes, falls and fractures, which account for about half of the cases in which the elderly become bedridden ; 3) Establish a safe and effective exercise program according to scientifically proven health guidelines ; 4) Assess the efficacy of strength training, which has not been incorporated into most elderly exercise programs, in preventing the elderly from becoming bedridden due to falls and fractures ; 5) Develop a program that can be easily adapted by different municipalities ; and 6) Accumulate success stories at Taiyo Village and disseminate them throughout Japan. The results of this 7-year Taiyo Village project have yielded several important points: 1) Establishment of guidelines to improve life functions; 2) Development of an exercise program to improve and maintain functional ability for life ; and 3) Reduction in medical costs. The results of the present study suggest that when promoting the health of the elderly, it is important to not only study the efficacy of an exercise program, but to also establish a regional program that effectively utilizes research findings.