[The effects of a stretching exercise program in elderly women].
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to identify the effects of a ten-week stretching exercise program on physiological, psychological functions, and activities of daily living(ADL) among elderly women.


METHODS
Using a quasi-experimental design, the experimental group received a ten-week stretching exercise program 3 times a week from March to May in 2002. They were divided into 22 persons in the experimental groups in 2 halls where the program was incorporated, and 22 persons in the control group in 2 halls, where the program was not incorporated. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test, and ANCOVA was considered significant as a 2-tailed test.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure(P=0.023), total cholesterol (P=0.019), triglycerides (P=0.002), spine ROM(P=0.000), trunk and hip-joint ROM(P=0.000), percent of body fat(P=0.039) as physiological functions, depression(P=0.041) as a psychological function, and activities of daily living(P=0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
A stretching exercise program showed good effects on improving physiological functions, psychological functions and activities of daily living among the elderly women in a city. Therefore, we recommend this program be utilized as a health promoting program for the elderly in the community.
Department of Nursing, College of Natural Science, Dong-eui University, Korea.
Yi-Soon
YS
Kim
Ihn-sook
IS
Jeong
Hyang-Mi
HM
Jung
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D010809:Physical Fitness