• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.11-17
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• 2008

Purpose: This study examined the application of electric stimulation to the auricle acupoint (frequency 2 Hz, stimulation level: noxious) with 30 elderly people over 65 years that received treatment in a rural hospital to determine the influence of pain, gait and balance in the aged with knee joint disease. Methods: The subjects were divided into three groups; the degenerative joint diseases (DJD) group (1 male, 9 females), the total knee replacement (TKR) group (1 male, 9 females) and the control group (1 male, 9 females). Auricualr electrical stimulation (AES) was applied with low frequency, high intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for 10 seconds per each point. Results: 1. For the change of pain according to AES, there was interaction in the resting period (p<0.001) and gait (p<0.001) and pain of the DJD group and TKR group was decreased. 2. The range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint showed a significant difference in interaction for each group of elderly people (p<0.001) and the ROM for the DJD group and TKR group of elderly people was increased. 3. In the analysis of gait speed changes, there was a significant difference in interaction for each group of elderly people (p<0.001) and for gait speed in the DJD group and TKR group of elderly people. 4. It was found in the change of static balance that there was a significant difference in interaction for each group of elderly people (p<0.01) and balance capacity in the DJD group and TKR group of elderly people was increased. Conclusion: The aged with knee joint disease have pain, and a decreased function of gait and balance. AES was an excellent treatment for control of pain, and an excellent treatment to enhanced joint functions. AES was useful for improving gait and balance due to decreased pain.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.462-467
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• 2018

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of work on medical expenditures by the elderly. Methods: Data pertaining to individuals aged 65 or older collected by the Korean Health Panel 2008-2013 were used. The effects of work on medical expenditures were analyzed in a panel tobit model adjusted for several variables of demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, and health factors for health care. Data were also analyzed based on age groups (65-74, $75{\leq}$), type of work (waged or self-employed), and working time (daytime work or night time work). Results: Among the elderly older than 65 years, 34-37% were workers. Work among the elderly reduced medical expenditures relative to nonworking elderly. Specifically, medical expenditures were lower in individuals older than 75 years, as well as among those who were self-employed insured and had medical aid insurance and those who exercised. However, medical expenditures were higher among females, married individuals, those with a higher household income, and those with a chronic disease. Elderly wageworkers showed reduced medical expenditures than nonworking elderly and elderly daytime workers did. Conclusion: The elderly population's work, especially wage work and daytime work, reduced medical expenditures relative to no work. These results provide valuable information for policymakers by indicating that work was associated with lower medical expenditures than no work. If elderly work is to be encouraged, it is necessary to provide a variety of high-quality wage work.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.45-54
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• 2014

Fall is one of the most intimidating health conditions in elders. Comprehensive assessment is necessary to understand the individual and environmental aspects of the falls such as balancing abilities, depression, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare the balancing ability, depression, and quality of life between elderly fallers and elderly non-fallers. Thirty-two community-dwelling elders (fifteen males and seventeen females between 65 and 83 years old), who have experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly fallers group. And twenty-four males and twenty-two females between 65 and 83 years old of community-dwelling elders, who have no experienced fall on walking during last twelve months, were involved in the elderly non-fallers group. Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and functional reach test (FRT), were used to evaluate the ability of the physical balance. 'Beck depression scale in Korean' questionnaire was used to assess the depression. 'Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Bref' questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. The results were as follows: 1) Balancing abilities measured by the BBS, TUG in the elderly fallers group were meaningfully lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05), whereas no significant difference in the FRT was found (p>.05). 2) Depression level in the elderly fallers group was significantly higher than that of the elderly non-fallers group (p<.05). 3) Quality of life in the elderly fallers group was significantly lower than that of the elderly non-fallers group, excluding environment domain (p<.05). Therefore, in order for clinical evaluation of the community-dwelling elders those with reduced balancing ability, it is necessary to evaluate and understand the fall experience, depression, and quality of life.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2007

We examined an urban population's awareness of dietary guidelines to determine whether they perceived them to be necessary, and identified the factors affecting this awareness and perceived necessity. Data were collected via physical examinations and face-to-face interviews. Health indicators were collected from health examinations, and information on individual characteristics, including awareness, perceived necessity, and dietary status were obtained from the interviews. The subjects' sociodemographic, health and dietary status were examined as potential factors influencing awareness and perceived necessity. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, and logistic regression modeling were used in the analysis. Low awareness of the dietary guidelines was displayed by the elderly and poorly educated individuals, and those without a spouse. Most people who were not aware of the dietary guidelines thought the guidelines unnecessary. Males with hypertension and lower hemoglobin levels, and females with less education had low awareness. Elderly females with lower bone density had less perceived necessity. Males and females with poor dietary status reported low perceived necessity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.880-891
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrients intakes and nutritional quality of Adults and Elderly People in an island area (Wando). A three-day dietary intakes survey, using a 24 hour recall method was obtained from 187 subjects aged 46 to 84 (mean age 65.3) living in an island area (Wando). Nutient intakes were analyzed using CAN-Pro soft program and compared to Korean RDA. The quality of nutrients was assessed by analyzing nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ). The average daily mean energy intakes were 1869.0 kcal for males and 1943.9 kcal for females, respectively. Daily intakes of protein for males and females were 28.0 and 30.4 g and those of fat were 31.5 and 28.51 g, respectively. Nutrient consumed below $75\%$ of Korean RDA was protein, vitamin A, Ca and Zn in both males and females. Average CPF ratio of males and females were 78.8 : 6.0 : 15.1 and 80.0 : 6.4 13.4, respectively. Energy intake ratio from protein was significantly higher in over 60 years males. Carbohydrate dependency decreased with age. Protein dependency increased with age. Nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) of energy, protein vitamin A and vitamin E were increased with age in males. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR), an index of overall dietary quality, were not significantly different by age group. Average MAR for males and females was 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. The index of nutritional quality (INQ) showed the tendency to decrease with age. Especially, there were significantly decreases in INQ of all nutrients, except protein, with age. Based on these results, it is evident that people in the island area did not consume enough nutrients. Specially, dietary intake of protein, vitamin A, vitamin E, and Ca were not adequate. (Korean J Community Nutrition 10(6) : $880\∼891$, 2005)

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2008

A rapidly aging Korean population highlights the importance of investigating the actual state and needs of clothing for the elderly to provide basic information for a future senior industry. This paper surveyed clothing purchasing behaviors. The sample of this survey consisted of 210 females aged 55 over who live in Dajeoun and Nonsan. The data were analyzed by using SPSS. The major findings are as follows. First, most elderly women have bought the ready-made clothes in local markets. Second, the major consideration of clothing purchasing behavior was the possibility of outdoor wearing and color. They were satisfied with ready-made clothes because of the convenience to buy, design, and the necessity of the clothing brands for aged people. Third, they preferred pure cotton or mixed cotton even though they possessed the mixed cotton or synthetic fiber in clothing materials. Respondents preferred the feeling, heat-retaining property, and absorptiveness in textiles. The result indicates the demand for various material applications of functional textiles for elderly women.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.445-459
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate of the dietary life, nutritional status and health condition in 100 elderly living in nursing homes in Pusan area. The quality of meals served in nursing homes base on nutrient contents and the state of preferared foods was evaluated by the questionaire and the nutritional status and health condition of subjects were estimated by the analysis of serum components. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1 Almost all subjects were aged over 70 years and poor-educated. Mean height and weight of subjects were lower than Korean average standard but Body Mass Index(BMI) of those were normal and body fat contents of females were especially high. 2. Protein, vitamin A, vitamin C and Ca intake of subjects were lower than Korean RDA. Subjects preferred pan-broiled for meats and fishes, muchim for vegetables fruits as food between meals. 3. There were no smoking and drinking in almost all subjects. All subjects have taken nutritional supplements, mainly mineral supplements. Prevalence of disease in subjects were in the following order : cardiovascular, stomach, neuralgia in males. The frequency of neuralgia in females was highest. 4. Serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, globulin, Ca and Mg were lower than those of normal ranges. Therefore, it Is necessary to improve nutritional status of the elderly in nursing homes with by increasing the various side dishes and to develop the standard menu for those.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.137-150
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• 2004

The aged population in Korea, especially in rural areas, has been growing rapidly. The welfare for the rural elderly has become a major concern, however we don't have enough information about that population; we don't even have detailed demographics of it. The present research is aimed at; 1) investigating the tendency and changing geographical distributions of the rural elderly, and 2) introducing GIS(Geographic Information Systems) as a useful tool in analyzing geographical distributions of the aged. The General Census Data from 1960 to 2000 was used to carry out this study. The major findings are; 1) There has been a gradual decrease in the rural population over the past 40 years, but this tendency has slowed down more recently; 2) It was observed that the 'oldest-old' group aged 85 years old and over has actuality increased in rural areas faster than any other age group; 3) The changing patterns of the elderly population were different in metropolitan areas and rural areas. In brief, there are far more aged people, especially of the 'oldest-old' group and females in rural areas than those in urban areas. These population, the 'oldest-old' or females, are the most vulnerable and have the greatest need for social welfare and social services of different kinds.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.855-866
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• 2008

The dietary patterns and characteristics of oldest-old subjects over 85 of Sunchang County (total of 171, 61 males and 110 females) were studied. The average age was $90.6{\pm}3.7$ years old (male; $89.1{\pm}2.8$, female; $91.5{\pm}3.8$), and 90.9% of them were reported to have had no schooling experience. Family types having a spouse were much greater in men (50%) than women (1.8%). The percentages of living alone showed the gender differences, which were comprised of 33% of females and 18.3% of males. In this study, 73.7% of subjects answered "very good" or "good" for their health status. These elderly subjects might maintain their health through a relatively lower rate of smoking (22.2%) and drinking (27.5%), having non-sedentary activities (84.2% of the subjects are physically active) and enough sleep. Their characteristic dietary patterns include high preference of rice (96.5%) and blanch & Seasoned vegetable dishes (Namal, 90.6%) frequent consumption of plant-based food groups containing plenty of anti-oxidants such as vegetables and legumes, and they showed high rates of meal regularity (77.2%) and no skipping of meals (94.2%). It seems to be developed and disseminated in the congregate meal program for improving nutritional status of the elderly, since the coming increment of single-elderly family and single dwellers of rural areas.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2017

Both cardiovascular diseases caused by decreased body composition and arterial compliance and falling induced by loss of muscle mass are frequent occurrences in the elderly. Therefore, elderly people are advised to perform elastic band resistance exercises to improve their body composition and arterial compliance. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of elastic band resistance training on the body composition, arterial compliance and falling index in elderly females (> 65 years). The elastic band resistance exercise program was administered 3 times per week for 60 minutes each time for 12 weeks. In addition, the exercise intensity was set to 11-14 on the Borg scale (6-20). Before and after the training period, the body composition (body weight (BW), muscle mass, % body fat, body mass index (BMI)), arterial compliance (ankle brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV)) and risk of falling index were determined. (After the program?), the BW (p=.003), BMI (p=.002), PWV (p=.017) and risk of falling (p=.037) in the exercise group were significantly reduced, whereas the BW (p=.009) and BMI (p=.009) in the control group were significantly increased. In conclusion, the body weight, BMI and arterial compliance of elderly females were positively changed by the elastic band resistance training. Thus, the elastic band resistance exercise may be useful for elderly people to prevent metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases and to reduce their risk of falling.