• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.208-215
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• 2020

This study investigated the relationship among gait variables and physical fitness variables for Korean elderly people. Two hundred elderly people aged 65 to 85, (100 men and 100 women) participated in this study. They performed senior fitness test consisting of 6 tests, 3 additional physical tests (vertical jump, one leg stand, and grip force), body composition measures, and gait test. The gait test used shoes having an inertia measurement device in the outer-soles. The results indicated that the stride length, 6-min walking, lean body mass, and dumbbell curls were significantly affected by age (the above 75 group vs. the below 75 group). Among 33 measured parameters, the principal component analysis (PCA) revealed five PCs such as gait characteristics, physical features, gait variability, and fitness levels. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that the preferred walking speed was significantly, positively associated with stride length and single support time, whereas it was negatively associated with double support time and gait variability.(Ed note: please confirm my modification) In conclusion, sarcopenia should be avoided in elderly people, and resistance exercise is highly recommended to help elderly people maintain their gait ability.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.285-301
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between health-related physical fitness factors and cognitive function and isolation on 308 elderly over 65 years old in Seoul and Gyeonggi do. The measuring instrument were as follows demographic characteristics(age, education level, drink, spouse, participation on in exercise) and health-related physical fitness(grip strength, leg strength, flexibility, balance), cognitive function (MMSE-K, digit span test) and emotional/social aspects of loneliness and isolation was measured. As a results, first, depending on the degree of demographic characteristics of elderly had significant difference. Second, health-related physical fitness and cognitive function are positive correlated, negative correlation between cognitive function and isolation. Third, health-related physical fitness of the elderly had a significant effect on cognitive function. Fourth, health-related fitness of the elderly had a significant effect on isolation. Fifth, the cognitive function of the elderly had a significant effect on isolation. In conclusion, this study will provide basic data for future aged man welfare studies and contribute to extended studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1750-1757
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of regular walking exercise on health-related parameters in the elderly with chronic diseases - apoplexy, overweight, impaired fasting glucose, and overweight + impaired fasting glucose. A total of 85 subjects, 27, 17, 21 and 20 in apoplexy (A), overweight (O), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), overweight + impaired fasting glucose group (O_IFG), respectively, completed a 12-week walking exercise. The health-related parameters were measured before and at the completion of the exercise program including anthropometric measurements, functional physical fitness levels, blood pressure, fasting glucose, blood lipid profiles and chronic inflammatory markers (CRPs). Significant improvements in body weight, BMI, %body fat, blood pressure, all blood lipid measurements and all measured physical fitness items were shown in A; those in %body fat, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in O; those in body weight, BMI, %body fat, fasting glucose, TC, TG and HDL-C in IFG; and those in body weight, HDL-C and LDL-C in O_IFG (p<0.05). The results of the present study demonstrated that a 12-week walking exercise brought positive effects on body weight, bloody lipid profiles, fasting glucose and functional physical fitness levels in the elderly with chronic diseases. In conclusion, this study suggested that walking regularly is very effective in lowering the risks of developing chronic diseases.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.367-375
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to help the elderly women's health improvement by comparing body composition factors and differences in senior fitness levels for health life according to the degree of obesity and physical activity levels in the elderly women. The subjects of the study were 32 elderly women and their consent to the study was obtained. The degree of obesity was classified by measuring body composition and physical activity levels were classified based on the questionnaire survey. Body composition factors and senior fitness levels were compared. Finally, the following conclusions were drawn. 1. The body composition factors according to the classification of the degree of obesity were significantly different in high blood pressure. Senior fitness was significantly different in 30-Second Chair Stand, Arm Curl, 2min Step Test, 8 Foot up and go. High degree of obesity was associated with decreased 30-Second Chair Stand, Arm Curl and 2min Step Test for senior fitness. 2. The body composition factors according to physical activity levels were significantly different in high blood pressure. Senior fitness was significantly different in 30-Second Chair Stand, Arm Curl, Chair Sit and Reach, 2min Step Test, 8 Foot up and go. High physical activity was associated with increased 30-Second Chair Stand, Arm Curl, Chair Sit and Reach, 2min Step Test, 8 Foot up and go for senior fitness.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.371-378
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• 2021

This study examined the effects of combined exercise training for preventing falls on the physical performance, falling index, and balance in elderly women. All subjects (N = 32) were recruited and divided randomly to either a combined exercise group (n= 16, EX) or non-exercise control group (n = 16, CON). During 12 weeks of training, the subjects in the EX performed the combined exercise programs (three times/week, 60min/session), and the subjects in the CON maintained their ordinary lives. At the PRE, MID, POST tests, All subjects completed senior fitness tests(dynamic balance, two minutes walking, sit and stand for 30 seconds), tests for falling risk with Tetrax, and tests for posture balance with the spine balance 3D. After the baseline tests, two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with contrast testing was used with SPSS 21.0. Alpha was set to 0.05. In the results, the dynamin balance (p=.001), two minutes walking (p=.001), sit and stand for 30 seconds (p=.001), falling risk (p=.002), and posture balance (p=.034) in the EX were significantly different, but not in the CON. Thus, elderly females who performed combined exercise training for 12 weeks can increase their physical fitness & posture stability and reduce their falling risk.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.155-163
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze life habits and senior fitness according to metabolic syndrome by sex and age in the elderly and prevent metabolic syndrome in the elderly. A questionnaire survey for life habits and senior fitness measurement were conducted with 159 old men and 233 old women(a total of 392) who used welfare facilities for the elderly located in G Metropolitan City. The results were as follows. 1. In the comparison of life habits according to metabolic syndrome by sex and age, while old men showed a significant difference in smoking, drinking and drug intake, and stress relief, old women showed a significant difference in drinking and drug intake and dietary habits. 2. In the comparison of senior fitness according to metabolic syndrome by sex and age, while old men had a significant difference in lower and upper body muscle strength, old women had a significant difference in lower and upper body muscle strength, and general endurance. Based on the findings, the elderly's life habits according to metabolic syndrome had a difference in smoking, drinking and drug, and dietary life and senior fitness had a significant difference in muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance. Thus, the elderly need the methods for exercise habits and stress relief for healthy life. Also, old men should steadily strive to improve flexibility, endurance, agility, and balance and old women should steadily strive to improve agility and balance. When the elderly are careful for decreased fitness with age and strive to maintain healthy life habits, their quality of life will be improved and metabolic syndrome will be prevented.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.553-560
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of u-health system on metabolic syndrome risk factor, body composition, and fitness in male and female elderly. Subjects were 46 elderly(24 men and 22 women) with metabolic syndrome. They were divided into u-health group and home exercise group. Blood pressure, blood profile, body composition, and fitness were measured before and after the intervention. As a results, blood glucose and waist circumference showed significant interaction in both men and women, respectively. In body composition, weight, muscle mass, fat mass, %body fat, BMI showed significant interaction whereas only muscle mass showed significant differences in women. In fitness, there were interaction shown in 3m up and go, functional reach, and gait speed in men. In women sit to stand, 6min walk, and grip strength showed significant interaction. In conclusion, u-health system seems to be the effective method in terms of checking regularly. However, easier and more simple system for elderly and specific direction for exercise should be added.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.3
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• pp.503-509
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Forest-walking exercise on gait pattern in the elderly. The subjects (n=37) were assigned to 2 groups: Forest-walking exercise (FWE) group (n=19, $66.34{\pm}4.31$ years old) and In-door treadmill-walking exercise (ITWE) group (n=18, $67.18{\pm}2.78$ years old). The subjects participated in FWE program or ITWE program (3 times/week, 80 min/day) for 12 weeks. The subjects were tested on functional fitness (strength, endurance, agility/balance, BMI) and gait pattern (cadence, velocity, and stability) at the beginning and the end of the 12-weeks program. For data analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and independent t-test and repeated two-way ANOVA were used. The results of this study were as follow: First, FWE group was significantly more improved than ITWE group on functional fitness(lower-body muscular strength, lower-body flexibility, mobility, cardiorespiratory endurance) after 12-weeks exercise program. But both groups showed equally improvements on functional fitness (upper-body muscular strength, upper-body flexibility, BMI). Second, FWE group was significantly more improved than ITWE group on cadence, gait velocity, and gait stability after 12-weeks exercise program. Therefore, this study may suggest that Forest-walking exercise based on sensory-motor functional integration improves efficiently functional fitness and gait pattern in the elderly, and further becomes an effective exercise method that makes more dynamic life, and prevents from falling.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.831-842
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• 2010

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenic obesity(SO), a condition of the reduction in muscle mass paired with an increased fat mass has been paid attention because of its association with disability in later life. A few evidence, however, has reported the association with these factors. PURPOSE: To explore the association among SO, physical function and fitness in older women. METHOD: 257 older women(age of 74) were recruited from Y city and 7 physical functions and 4 fitness tests were measured. Participants were classified into one of four groups based on their body fat and muscle mass: Normal group (GR-A), high fat(GR-B), sarcopenia(GR-C), and sarcopenic obese(GR-D). GLMand LSD-test were conducted with SPSS 12.0. RESULTS: Chair stand, arm-curl, back-scratch, 2-min steps of GR-A was higher than GR-C and GR-D(p<.05). One-leg stand of GR-A was higher than GR-D(p<.01) and of GR-C was higher than GR-D(p<.01).8ft-TUG of GR-D was lower than GR-A(p<.01). Grip strength, knee extension of GR-A was higher than that of GR-C and GR-D(p<.01) and knee flexion of GR-A was also higher than that of GR-C and GR-D(p<.01). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, we conclude that SO is significantly associated with lower physical function and fitness in older Korean women, which alarm the risk of frailty induced by SO.