• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.192-199
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• 2015

Background: Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors are prevalent among firefighters in some developed countries. It is unclear whether physical activity and cardiopulmonary fitness reduce cardiovascular disease risk and the cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters. The present study investigated the relationship between leisure-time physical activity, cardiopulmonary fitness, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and cardiovascular workload at work in firefighters in Hong Kong. Methods: Male firefighters (n = 387) were randomly selected from serving firefighters in Hong Kong (n = 5,370) for the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk factors (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, known cardiovascular diseases). One-third (Target Group) were randomly selected for the assessment of off-duty leisure-time physical activity using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed, as well as cardiovascular workload using heart rate monitoring for each firefighter for four "normal" 24-hour working shifts and during real-situation simulated scenarios. Results: Overall, 33.9% of the firefighters had at least two cardiovascular disease risk factors. In the Target Group, firefighters who had higher leisure-time physical activity had a lower resting heart rate and a lower average working heart rate, and spent a smaller proportion of time working at a moderate-intensity cardiovascular workload. Firefighters who had moderate aerobic fitness and high leisure-time physical activity had a lower peak working heart rate during the mountain rescue scenario compared with firefighters who had low leisure-time physical activities. Conclusion: Leisure-time physical activity conferred significant benefits during job tasks of moderate cardiovascular workload in firefighters in Hong Kong.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.380-386
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the effects of physical activity programs on young children's body composition, physical fitness, blood lipids, and growth-related factors. Fourteen young male child subjects participated in this study. Experimental groups were divided into a young obese children group (OG; n=7) and a young normal weight children group (NG; n=7). The subjects performed supervised physical activity programs with moderate intensity for 12 weeks, 40 minutes per session, 3 times per week. The results of this study are as follows: HDL-C, growth hormone, and IGF-I were significantly increased in NG, but OG was showed no changes. Physical fitness was significantly increased in both NG and OG. This study demonstrated that physical activity programs have a positive effect on the prevention of obesity, as well as a positive effect on growth and development in young normal weight children. However, long-term follow-up studies are necessary to clarify the additive effect of exercise program with behavior modification in young obese children.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.297-306
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• 2009

The purposes of this study were to investigate whether the program of health promotion and follow up feedback by periods could improve physical fitness related to work ability of the middle-aged and aged workers. Subjects were composed of two groups; workers aged below forty five and forty five and over who had measured their health-related physical fitness twice for 2 years (2006 & 2007) through the program of health promotion operated by Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency. Paired t-test was used to evaluate the difference between the first measurement and re-measurement of health-related fitness which was operated after six to twelve months from the first one. We used 0.05 level for statistical significance. The results of this study were as follows. All measurement items including body fat ratio(%), $VO_2max$, grip strength, sit-up, and trunk flexion were significantly improved in both groups. The improvement(%) of $VO_2max$, grip strength of workers of forty five and above was lower than those of workers of below forty five. Servicing the program of health promotion and follow up feedback by periods may help workers' improvement of health-related physical fitness related to work ability.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.309-315
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the comparison of physique with physical fitness according to TBS (Talented-Educational in Sport) program by H University in 2009-2011. For this study, 668 elementary students (2009: 297, 2010: 194, 2011: 177 or 1st: 506, 2nd: 104, 3rd: 58) were collected who aged 7 to 13 living in Seoul and Gyeonggi area. The subjects were measured on physique variables (5) and physical fitness variables (7). Mean comparisons (ANOVA) were conducted for each gender in order to compare the mean differences among attendance number. For association analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find association between the physique and physical fitness variables. Some physical fitness variables (sit up, half squat jump, side step, standing long jump, flexibility in male children; sit up, half squat jump, side step in female children) increased significantly in the attendance number but the physique variables did not. The results show that TES program was effective on the physical fitness variables (muscle endurance & agility) in sports talent children.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.61-69
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate correlations between physical fitness, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX), lipid peroxidation levels (MDA), lipid profiles, lactate levels and cardiovascular variables in an exercising group and a control group. Methods: Twelve healthy young males (Exercise group: 6, Controls: 6). All subjects took physical fitness tests and blood samples were collected while subjects were resting. Results: In the exercise group, there were several significant correlations: between back strength and SOD enzyme levels (r=0.82, p=0.04), back strength and MDA (r=0.94, p=0.00), agility and GPX (r=0.81, p=0.04), and balance and GPX (r=0.81, p=0.04). In the control group, there were significant correlations between: dominant grip strength and MDA (r=-0.84, p=0.03), and agility and GPX (r= -0.82, p=0.04). In the exercise group, there were no significant correlations between physical fitness factors, TC, TG, HDL-C and lactate levels. In the control group, there were significant correlations between: back strength and TG (r=0.88, p=0.01), and agility and HDL-C (r= -0.84, p=0.03). In the exercise group, there were significant correlations between: non-dominant grip strength and SBP (r=0.94, p=0.00), dominant grip strength and SBP (r=0.85, p=0.03), and power and SBP (r=0.82, p=0.04). In controls, there were significant correlations between: dominant grip strength and DBP (r=-0.85, p=0.03), muscular endurance and ST level (r=-0.93, p=0.00), and muscular endurance and HR (r=-0.88, p=0.01). Conclusion: That cardiovascular patients and controls who participated in regular exercise maintained their antioxidant capacity suggests that long-term physical activity can counteract the negative dysfunction that characterizes sedentary lifestyle, probably by maintaining plasma antioxidant defenses and thereby preventing oxidative stress.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.345-354
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a low intensity exercise program with telephone coaching on the physical fitness and physiological index of elderly women who are receiving home visiting health program. Methods: This study was conducted using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 53 senior citizens. The subjects (15) in experimental group 1 performed only a low-intensity exercise program and the subjects (16) in experimental group 2 performed a low intensity exercise program with telephone coaching for 16 weeks. The low intensity exercise program consisted of muscle strength band exercise, stretching, and hand exercise using balls. Results: There were statistical differences in the right grip strength (p=.030), left grip strength (p=.035), raising behind of right arm (p=.046), raising behind of left arm (p=.045), postprandial blood sugar (p=.021), body mass index (p=.029). Conclusion: The low intensity exercise program with telephone coaching is recommended as a physical fitness and physiological index for elderly women in a home visiting health program.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of aquatic exercise program on physical fitness, pain and physiological function in patients with osteoarthritis. Method: The subjects of the study were thirty women(age: forty-seventy five) who have an osteoarthritis. Aquatic exercise program consist of approximately two hours of exercise in water, two days per week, for six weeks. Data were gathered from April 19 2005 to May 27 using a questionnaire and measuring physical fitness and physiological index. Data were analyzed with the SPSS Win 12.0 using frequency and paired t-test for difference between pre-exercise and post-exercise. Results: The results of this study were as follows: There were significantly increased on left shoulder (t=3.848, p=.001) and waist flexibility(t=-5.622, p=.001) scores. There were significantly decreased on pain score(t=5.288. p=.000), body weight(t=5.072, p=.001), systolic B.P(t=18.362, p=.001), diastolic B.P(t=32.558, p=.001), blood sugar(t=1.805, p=.041), total cholesterol(t=2.032, p=.026) scores. Conclusion: From these results, it is concluded that the aquatic exercise program can be effective in increasing physical fitness, physiological function and decreasing pain in patients with osteoarthritis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.390-400
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• 2006

Purpose: To develop & to examine the effect of a Tailored Exercise Program (TEP) on physical fitness in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Method: In a two-group pre-and post-test design, from a total 41 participants. 21 were assigned th the experimental group find the remainder to the control group. The experimental group participated in a 4-day a week, 8 week program in which one session a week was by direct instruction with the self-help group and two sessions a week were by videotaped instruction at home by themselves. The control group did not receive any intervention. Results: The eight week TEP in patients with PD was found to be significantly effective in enhancing muscle strength, ankle flexibility, and balance. However instrumental activities of daily living was not changed by the intervention. Conclusion: These results suggest that TEP can have an effect on physical fitness in patients with PD. Further research with a larger sample and for a longer follow up period is needed to expand our understanding of the effects of TEP for patients with PD.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.457-466
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of low intensity exercise program with telephone coaching on the physical fitness of elderly people who are receiving home visiting nursing care. Method: This study was conducted using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 61 elders. Elders (34) in the experimental group performed low intensity exercise and of these 16 received telephone coaching. The low intensity exercise program consisted of stretching, muscle strengthening with an elastic band, massage, and ball exercise, five days a week, for sixteen weeks. Data were collected from July 2007 to December 2007. $x^2$-test, ANCOVA with SPSS WIN 11.0 program were used to analyse the data. Results: There were statistical differences in the right grasping power in the right hand (p=0.021), Raising behind of right arm (p=0.006), Raising behind of left arm (p=0.007). Conclusion: These results indicate, that a low intensity exercise program with telephone coaching can help improve physical fitness in elders receiving served home visiting nursing care.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.568-575
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• 2007

Purpoes: The study was done to investigate the effects of an exercise program on body composition, cardiopulmonary function and physical fitness in obese children. Methods: Thirty nine children in grades 4, 5, and 6 in elementary school were employed: experimental group(20) and control group(19). The subjects in the experimental group participated in an exercise program for 8weeks, thirty five minutes per session, four times per week. This data was analyzed by ANCOVA and paired t-test. Result: The Height(F=2.615, p=0.027) of the experimental group was significantly different from the control group. Also, in the experimental group, there were significant differences of height(t=4 79, p=0.000), cardiac rate(t=-6.461, p=0.000), body mass index(t=-2.13 p=0.046), muscle strength(t=3.48, p=0.003), and muscle endurance(t=3.20, p=0.005). Otherwise, in the control group, there were significant differences of weight(t=2.27, p=0.036), waist-hip ratio(t=3.16, p=0.005), and muscle endurance(t=-2.38, p=0.030). Conclusion: Jumping rope improved the body composition, cardiopulmonary function, and physical fitness for obese children.