Assessment of the exercise intensity of short stick exercises in elderly individuals.
The present study was to obtain basic data for applying the short stick exercises to frail elderly individuals. A total of 20 individuals aged ≥60 years (10 men, and 10 women) with independence in activities of daily living participated in a short stick exercise program. During the exercise program, the time required and the number of times the short stick was dropped were investigated. The exercise intensity was also evaluated based on expired gas and heart rate measurements. The mean exercise intensity of the short stick exercises was 1.9 ± 0.3 metabolic equivalents (METs), equivalent to talking while standing or walking indoors. Compared to the early elderly (those aged 60 to 74 years), the late elderly (those aged ≥75 years) had a significantly higher number of stick drops and significantly lower increase in heart rate from resting to the warming-up exercise. The short stick exercises had a low exercise intensity and can be applicable to exercise interventions of the frail elderly individuals. However, in the case of the late elderly, the high frequency of short stick drops and the change in heart rate during warming up must be considered.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, 3-11-1 Asahigaoka, Kashiwara 582-0026, Japan.
Shigeki
S
Kurasawa
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, 3-11-1 Asahigaoka, Kashiwara 582-0026, Japan.
Katsushi
K
Yokoi
School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, 580 Mikazura, Wakayama 641-0011, Japan.
Nobuyuki
N
Miyai
Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan.
Kouichi
0000-0002-5638-183X
K
Yoshimasu
Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan.
Shigeki
S
Takemura
Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan.
Kazuhisa
K
Miyashita