• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of forestry exercise on the quality of life and physical self-concept of breast cancer survivors. The subjects of this study were eight breast cancer survivors 6 months after mastectomy. The forest combined exercise program consisted of aerobic exercise through forest walking and resistance exercise using elastic bands. The forest combined exercise was conducted twice for 8 weeks. Forest trekking consisted of a 2km walking speed and resistance exercise consisted of three levels of sets and intensity. The format was divided into gradual increases. The exercise time was 40 to 60 minutes for forest trekking, 20 to 30 minutes for descent, and 40 to 60 minutes for resistance exercise, for a total of 120 to 130 minutes per day. Breast cancer survivors' quality of life was measured using a questionnaire, and changes in quality of life were measured using a t-test (α=.05). Physical self-concept was assessed through in-depth interviews. There was no statistically significant difference in quality of life before and after 8 weeks of combined forestry exercise, but there was a slight tendency to increase in the area of physical well-being. Physical self-concept showed positive changes in motivation, physical strength improvement, health promotion, physical competence, and self-confidence through the forest composite exercise. Therefore, the forest composite exercise is believed to have a positive effect on the physical self-concept of breast cancer survivors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.4
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• pp.417-422
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of forest exercise on blood pressure, heart rate, MDA, and SOD. Twelve volunteers were placed in 2 groups: Forest Exercise Group (FEG, n=6; $age=44.2{\pm}2.68$) and Indoor Exercise Group (IEG, n=6; $age=45.6{\pm}2.97$). The subjects who joined this investigation were asked to participate in forest exercise and/or indoor exercise. Blood pressure, heart rate, MDA, and SOD were collected at rest, just after the submaximal exercise, and 30 minutes after each exercise. For data analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and ANCOVA were used. The results were as followings : 1) There was no difference between FEG and IEG on systolic blood pressure after submaximal exercise and at 30 minutes after each exercise., however FEG showed better stability than IEG on diastolic blood pressure at 30 minutes after forest exercise. 2) Both groups showed similar change of heart rate and MDA after submaximal exercise and at 30 minutes after each exercise. 3) Both groups similarly activated on the SOD level after submaximal exercise. However, compared to IEG, FEG showed significant decrease on SOD level at 30 minutes after forest exercise. Therefore, this study suggests that forest exercise may have good effects on blood pressure and MDA, and cardiovascular disease prevention.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of acute forest walking exercise on blood glucose of IGT (impaired glucose tolerance), NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) in the elderly. There were four groups (n=60): forest walking exercise with IGT group (n=15; $66.21{\pm}4.16$ yrs), forest walking exercise with NIDDM group (n=15; $64.85{\pm}3.23$ yrs), field walking exercise with IGT group (n=15; $67.44{\pm}1.78$ yrs), field walking exercise with NIDDM group (n=15; $65.55{\pm}8.21$ yrs). They were tested on blood glucose levels at the beginning and at the end of each walking exercise. While the forest walking groups (interval + resistance exercise) worked for 40minutes with HRmax 50~60% level, the field walking groups (only aerobic exercise) worked for 40 minutes with HRmax 50~60% level. For data analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and paired t-test and ANCOVA test were used. This study resulted in as follows. First, both walking groups showed the significant decrease of blood glucose in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) after completing each exercise. Second, while the forest walking group showed the significant decrease of blood glucose in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) after completing the forest exercise, the field walking group did not present any decrease of blood glucose in NIDDM after the field walking exercise. Therefore, the present findings suggest that the forest walking exercise as an interval and resistance exercise may be more effective to decrease blood glucose for IGT and NIDDM peoples in comparison to the field walking exercise as an aerobic exercise.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.386-394
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• 2023

This study investigated changes in salivary cortisol, lactic acid, and heart rate along the route during walking exercise in a forest environment for the purpose of reducing stress. Walking exercise in a forest environment was conducted on a Hill Type (Distance: 800m, Average slope 25°, Altitude 112m) and Step Type (Distance: 800m, Average slope 25°, Altitude 114m) routes for 10 female college students in their 20s. The subjects were asked to walk at a speed of 60 bpm. The resulting changes in salivary cortisol, lactate, and average heart rate during exercise were compared and analyzed using Repeated Measurement two-way ANOVA, and the maximum heart rate during exercise and average heart rate at rest were compared and analyzed using paired t-test, and the following results were obtained. First, there was no significant difference in salivary cortisol depending on the type and period of the forest, but it tended to gradually decrease. Second, there was a significant difference in lactic acid depending on the type and period, and it was higher in Step Type. Third, there was a significant difference in the average heart rate during exercise, and it was higher in Step Type. Fourth, there was a significant difference in maximum heart rate during exercise, and it was higher in Step Type. Fifth, there was no significant difference in average heart rate during rest. In summary, walking exercise in a forest environment can be effective for stress reduction for female college students in their 20s, but it appears that forest routes should be selected according to physical strength level, and walking exercise in a forest environment for long periods of time is not recommended. For this purpose, it is suggested that it is appropriate to select the Hill Type route.

• 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.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2019

This study was carried out to verify the accuracy of fitness tracking devices in monitoring heart rate and energy consumption and to contribute to the development of a forest exercise program that can recommend the intensity and amount of forest exercises based on personal health-related data and provide monitoring and feedback on forest exercises. Among several commercially available wearable devices, Fitbit was selected for the research, as it provides Open API and data collected by Fitbit can be utilized by third parties to develop programs. Fitbit provides users with various information collected during forest exercises including exercise time and distance, heart rate, energy consumption, as well as the altitude and slope of forests collected by GPS. However, in order to verify the usability of the heart rate and energy consumption data collected by Fitbit in forest, the accuracy of heart rate and energy consumption were verified by comparing the data collected by Fitbit and reference. In this study, 13 middle-aged women were participated, and it was found that the heart rate measured by Fitbit showed a very low error rate and high correlation with that measured by the reference. The energy consumption measured by Fitbit was not significantly different from that measured in the reference, but the error rate was slightly higher. However, there was high correlation between the results measured by Fibit and the reference, therefore, it can be concluded that Fitbit can be utilized in developing actual forest exercise programs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.2
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• pp.210-221
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• 2024

This study aimed to investigate the effects of forest walking based on an exercise prescription on body composition of older adults. Forty-four older adults (average age: 69.3 ± 3.1 years) participated in this study. The experimental group engaged in forest walking based on a prescribed exercise intensity considering the participants' respective health conditions. The participants walked three times a week for more than an hour each time for 8 weeks. By contrast, the participants in the control group spent their days according to their usual lifestyle. The analysis involved the following: ① a comparison of the measurements taken before and after the 8-week period of forest walking in the experimental group, ② a comparison between pre- and post-study measurements in the control group, and ③ a comparison of the changes (post-study minus pre-study values) between the experimental and control groups. The results were as follows: ① the experimental group showed significant decreases in weight, body fat mass, and body mass index; ② the control group exhibited significant decreases in muscle mass and ratio in right arm and left leg, muscle ratio in trunk, and body water mass in right arm; and ③ weight and body fat index decreased in the experimental group but increased in the control group. In conclusion, forest walking based on an exercise prescription had a positive impact on body composition of older adults.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.957-963
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• 2015

Objective To compare the pain-reducing effect of forest bathing alone versus forest bathing in combination with stretching and strengthening exercises in patients with chronic posterior neck pain. Methods Sixty-four subjects with posterior neck pain that had lasted more than 3 months were enrolled. They were randomly divided into a forest bathing alone (FBA) group and a forest bathing with exercise (FBE) group; each group included 32 subjects. All subjects from both groups walked every morning in the forest for about 2 hours for 5 days. In the afternoon, the FBE group did a stretching and strengthening exercise for about 4 hours; the FBA group had free time in the woods. Visual analog scale (VAS) on one day, VAS over the previous week, neck disability index (NDI), EuroQol 5D-3L VAS (EQ VAS) and index (EQ index), McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ), the number of trigger points in the posterior neck region (TRPs), and the range of motion of the cervical spine were evaluated on the first and last day of the program and compared between the two groups. Results The number of TRPs were significantly reduced in the FBE group compared with the FBA group (p=0.013). However, the other scales showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion When patients with chronic posterior neck pain underwent a short-term forest bathing (less than 7 days) program, FBE was more effective in the reduction of the number of TRPs than FBA. However, all other pain measurement scales we evaluated showed no statistically significant difference between the two protocols.

• The Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.71-81
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• 2018

It is necessary to build a quality-enhancing forest leisure sports facility according to values that value life quality, national forest policy. Vita Parcours (fitness trails) is found to be the activities highly convenient, so their introduction and promotion in Korea should be highly considered. field survey was necessary to explore the possibility of installing Vita Parcours. Several sites were selected, such as Asean recreational forest, Unaksan recreational forest, Yumyeongsan recreational forest, Saneum recreational forest, Jungmisan recreational forest and National center for forest therapy. At these locations, we explored the current status of forest facilities and forest trails. A total number of 31 exercise facilities has been identified and surveyed, some of which are located on the trails (2), alongside the trail (9), alongside trail boundaries (2) or represent facilities suitable for both outdoor and indoor exercise within the forest (18), all of whom provide location for 44 different exercise routines (flexibility exercises (23), endurance (12) and strength exercises (9)). Field work also included identification of forests paths, the total number of whom was 34 paths - 30 identified as trails, 2 as hiking trails, 1 as a forest path for relaxation and healing and 1 as an exploratory path. Regarding the structure and shape of these trails, 32 was straight in shape and only 2 designed as a circular forest trails. Average length of these trails was 652.2m with the highest and the lowest point altitude difference of 60m, on average. Saneum recreational forest provide the most suitable site/environment for Vita Parcours and as a result of this, Saneum recreational forest is proposed as a location to support the endeavors in promotion of these valuable forest fitness trails. Among the forest paths at this site, a forest path which has a length of 1.84km and 73.0m the highest and the lowest point altitude difference was selected as the most suitable, and may be equipped with necessary stations for exercise or obstacles. In addition, if these trails are to be introduced and welcomed by its users, we must assure that they are properly maintained.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.963-972
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• 2016

A survey was performed to present a scheme for building a healing forest park inside a city in consideration of the fact that healing forests are located in non-urban areas because of their nature, and are therefore not conveniently accessible to urban population (n=196). As a result, among 196 respondents to the survey, 74.5% indicated that it was necessary to build an urban healing forest park. In the case of the expected usage pattern, were an urban forest park to be built, the largest proportion responded that it would be used to "walk", followed by "rest and meditation" and then "meeting/talk/date". An analysis showed that the largest proportion responded that they factor in "Accessibility" (48%), followed by "Park condition" (16.8%), and "Vegetation type" (12.2%). According to the analysis of usage preference for healing therapy, it was shown that the largest proportion preferred "Terrain therapy" (37.8%), followed by "Exercise therapy" (19.9%), and "Naturopathy" (18.9%). The factor anlaysis of usage preference regarding urban healing forest park facilities showed that the components were divided into "Operation facilities" and "Natural healing space", and the largest proportion preferred "Trails for healing", followed by "Space or forest for meditation" and "Health promotion center", and then "Facilities for a exercise therapy". In building an urban healing forest park, we think that it is effective to introduce zones and facilities in consideration of park characteristics that are centered on everyday behaviors, such as taking a walk, which differ from those of healing forests located in non-urban areas.