[The effects of an exercise program for the female elderly in the community].
In Mizumaki-cho, Fukuoka, a "School of muscle-building for the elderly" was held by the self-help group "MIZUMAKI Iki-iki senior club" once a week from Sep. 2002 to Mar. 2004. This school program included stretching, aerobics and resistance exercises. In this study, we clarified the effect of exercise for the 38 elderly females in this school. Their average age was 65.8 years old. Blood pressure, BMI, body %Fat, VO2 max, grasping power, time of standing on one leg with eyes open, anteflexion while sitting, time of walking for 10 m and time of standing up from sitting on a chair were measured before starting school, after 6 months, 12 months and 18 months. Every measured value except BMI and VO2 max was improved, and these improvements continued for 18 months. Especially, it was shown that time of standing on one leg with eyes open, time of standing up from sitting on a chair and time of walking for 10 m improved by 121.6%, 112.7%, 30.4%, respectively, compared with each measured value at the start. These improvements might produce the effect of fall prevention for the elderly. From the results of this study, it was clarified that regular exercise builds up the muscles of the female elderly, and continuation of exercise also extends the effect of exercise for the female elderly.
Yamamoto
Mieko
M
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
Shin
Toshio
T
Nakazono
Takao
T
Nagata
Jyoji
J
Haraguchi
Tsuyoshi
T
Kan
Shounin
S
Hara
Masayoshi
M
Okada
Kouichi
K
Noguchi
Kumiko
K
Matsuda
Shinya
S
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D016138:Walking