Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aerobic rhythmical exercise program on $VO_2$ max, leg strength, grip strength, flexibility, exercise self-efficacy and quality of life in elderly. This quai-experimental study was designed as a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest study. 36 subjects, aged between 65 and 73 years who have normal cognition. sensory function and cerebellum function participated in this study. 19 experimental group subjects participated aerobic rhythmical exercise program. Aerobic rhythmical exercise program was developed on the basis of calisthenics, stretching, aerobic exercise, Korean traditional dance and music by the author. The program consisted of approximately 1 hours of exercise, 3 times a week for 9 weeks. During 1 hours workout, there were 15 minutes of warm-up dancing, 35 minutes of conditioning dance and 10 minutes of cool-down dancing. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between $40\%\;and\;60\%$ of age adiusted maximum heart rates. The $VO_2$ max, grip strength, leg strength, flexibility, exercise self-efficacy and quality of life were measured prior to and following the experimental treatment. Data were analyzed with $x^2-test$, t-test, mean, standard deviation. percentage of change and ANCOVA test using SAS program. Results were obtained as follows. 1. The $VO_2$ max of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group following the aerobic rhythmical exercise program(F=7.76, p=0.008). 2. The grip strength of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group following the aerobic rhythmical exercise program(F=4.61, p=0.039). 3. The leg strength of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group following the aerobic rhythmical exercise program(F=9.29, p=0.000). 4. The was no significantly difference of flexibility between experimental and control group 5. The self-efficacy of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group following the aerobic rhythmical exercise program(F=43.40, p=0.000). 6. The quality of life of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group following the aerobic rhythmical exercise program(F=8.91. p=0.005). The results suggest that aerobic rhythmical exercise program can improve $VO_2$ max, grip strength. leg strength. exercise self-efficacy and quality of life elderly. Thus. aerobic rhythmical exercise program was a useful nursing intervention for elderly.