Purpose Evaluating the aging of senior and providing optimal sevices are important things for successful aging. This study identified functional fitness related with heath of aged 65 years or older and developed an age scale (longevity fitness age) for assessing their aging. Methods Participants were 458 older people (166 male, 292 female). They were divided into healthy group and disease group. Healthy group was used for the development of the longevity age equation and disease group was for investigating the validity of the equation. Participants completed 13 function fitness variables. The first principal component obtained from a principal component analysis was used to compute the equation. All variables except for grip strength and carrying beans were correlated with chronological aged. Grip strength and variables related lower functional fitness had differences between healthy group and disease group. Finally, 4 variables were selected for the equation. Results It was the following: longevity fitness age=0.942*X1+2, 185*X2+0.673*X3+0.051*X4+0.588*chronological age+58.401, where X1=standing up from a supine position, sec (s), X2=maximum walking (s), X3=standing up and sitting down a chair (s), X4=one leg balance with eyes open (s). The longevity fitness age of healthy group do not have a difference compared to their chronological age but disease group had a difference significantly. Age difference (chronological age-longevity fitness age) of sedentary group in disease group was significantly bigger than its active group. Longevity fitness age could assess an aging of senior. Conclusion We suggest that it can use as the tool for early detecting senior who need the health care service.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill exercise and MitoQ treatment on NADPH oxidase, antioxidation and vascular function-related factors in aortic of D-galactose-induced aging rats. Methods To induce the animal model of aging, D-galactose was diluted in saline, and a dose of 100mg /kg was intraperitoneally injected into Sprague-Dawley rats once a day for a total of 10 weeks. Rats were divided into five groups: Control group (CON, n=9), D-galactose control group (DC, n=9), D-galactose+MitoQ group (DM, n=9), D-galactose+Exercise group (DE, n=9), D-galactose+MitoQ + Exercise group(DME, n=9), and treadmill exercise was conducted for 5 days/week during 8 weeks with gradual increase of intensity. MitoQ treatment was intraperitoneally injected at a concentration of 100μM/kg twice a week for 8 weeks during the research period. Results The result showed that treadmill exercise and MitoQ treatment decreased the expression of NADPH oxidase level and increased antioxidant enzyme such as SOD-2, catalase. It lead to positive effects such as increasing the level of eNOS, a protein involved in vascular function while decreasing the level of VCAM-1. In addition, as a result, it showed the structurally reduced intima-media thickness. Conclusions It can be concluded that treadmill exercise and MitoQ treatment are effective in ameliorating and treating vascular dysfunction resulting from aging.
Purpose The present study was to investigate to extent that effects of sensory information distortion by muscle vibration on continuous limb movement in aging and accuracy constraint. Methods Young adult group (n=11) and older adult group (n=11) were divided. All participant were instructed to perform repetitive aiming movement to specified targets under three-accuracy constraints (i.e., low, high, and mixed accuracy constraints) in the vibration and no-vibration conditions. Kinematic data was collected by movement time and movement error frequence. Results The results showed that compared with young adult, older adult increased movement time when accuracy constraint was high under vibration condition. Older adult also was a high degree of movement errors than young adults when accuracy constraint was high under vibration condition. Conclusion The muscle vibration stimulation may influence considerably on the continuous limb movement probably due to degeneration in sensory information processing by aging.
The aim of the study was to examine the tracking of body composition and physical fitness in boys and girls for 6 years. Thirty-seven boys and girls participated throughout the study. All measurements were performed annually. Body height, body weight, circumferences and skinfold thicknesses were measured and skeletal maturity was assessed. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured by DXA. Nine physical fitness tests were administered. Results of the study showed that there are significant interaction effects of time and group for body height(p<.01), waist circumference(p<.001), and skinfolds at triceps(p<.01), suprailiac(p<.01), thigh(p<.001) and medial calf(p<.01). All anthorpometric variables except skinfold thickness increased during the study period. Significant interaction effects of time and group were found for percent body fat(p<.05) and bone mineral density(p<.01). Percent body fat and fat tissue increased in boys from 7 to 11 years, then decreased in 12 years. Lean tissue(p<.001), bone mineral content(p<.001) and bone mineral density(p<.001) increased both in boys and girls throughout the study. There were significant interaction effect of time and group on sit and reach, standing long jump and sit-ups. In conclusion, percent body fat and fat tissue increased until 11 years, lean tissue and bone mineral density increased throughout the study both in boys and girls.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the location, rate, cause, and types of injuries according to the injured area by age and sports in female athletes. Methods The subject of the study was 426 female athletes who were registered as combat sports(Judo, Taekwondo, Fencing) athletes at the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee. We collected the data via online questionnaires, and conducted a frequency analysis using R statistics program. Results As a result, 51.4% of athletes experienced injuries in the past year, and the highest injury rate was shown in Taekwondo-University(0.43) during competition and Taekwondo-Professional(5.55) during training. The cause of injuries during competition was mainly due to 'as a result of me or the opponent's hittings, skills, or fouls' among internal factors, and 'recurrent injuries' among external factors. Among internal factors during training except for torso area and professional athletes, most of the injuries were also caused by ‘as a result of me or the opponent's hittings, skills, or fouls’ and ‘recurrent injuries’ among external factors. The frequency of injury was the highest in the lower extremity area across all age groups. The most frequently injured area, in the case of Judo, is skin-bleeding in the head, skin-bruise, muscle-inflammation, bone-fracture, spondylopathy(disc, stenosis, etc.) in the torso, muscle-inflammation in the upper extremity, ligament-sprain, rupture in the lower extremity. Taekwondo athletes had skin-bruise in the head, upper and lower extremities, and muscle-inflammation in the torso area, as the frequent injury cases, and Fencing athletes had all skin-bruise regardless of injuries. Conclusions The results of this study will be used to take measures for preventing injuries or to change training programs.
PURPOSE This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise programs in improving physical fitness among middle-aged adults in Korea. METHODS A literature search was conducted using KCI-registered databases on DBpia, RISS, and KISS up to September 21, 2023. The review followed the PICOSD framework (population: middle-aged adults; intervention: exercise program; comparison: did not participate in exercise program; outcome: physical fitness; study design: randomized controlled trials). Two researchers independently evaluated bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). The data was synthesized using the CMA 3.0 program, applying a random effects model to estimate the overall effect size using Hedges’g. RESULTS Out of 914 screened documents, 15 studies were selected, comprising 405 participants. The overall effect size for improving physical fitness was significant (g=0.994, 95% CI: 0.712–1.276). Sub-analysis indicated significant improvements in various components, including muscle strength (g=1.295, 95% CI: 0.909-1.682), muscular endurance (g=0.972, 95% CI: 0.637-1.308), cardiorespiratory endurance (g=1.092, 95% CI: 0.453–1.731), flexibility (g=0.883, 95% CI: 0.555–1.210), muscle power (g=1.421, 95% CI: 0.656– 2.186), and agility (g=1.854, 95% CI: 0.347–3.361) compared to the control group. An additional analysis focusing solely on women revealed a slight increase in effect size, although the order of effect sizes remained consistent across fitness components. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis confirms the effectiveness of exercise programs in enhancing physical fitness in middle-aged adults. The systematic review also highlights key considerations for designing exercise programs for this demographic. Future studies should aim to minimize bias and enhance the quality of reporting to ensure more robust results.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical activity and depression according to the presence of disease. Methods A survey and basic assessment were conducted for 2,754 (Male=1,025 and Female=1,729) aged 40 and over who participated in the rural-based cohort study. The survey included physical activity, depression scale and disease preservation. The basic assessment measured height, weight, and body fat percentage. The measured data were analyzed by using logistic regression to examine the relationship between physical activity and depression prevalence. Results First, physical activity reduced the prevalence of depression by 33% and 51%, respectively, in the general population and in patients with the disease. Second, physical activity once or twice per week reduced the prevalence of depression in patients with disease by 51%, and at least three physical activities reduced the prevalence of depression by 37% in the general population and 33% of patients with disease. Third, physical activity less than 150 minutes per week reduced the prevalence of depression in patients with disease by 43%, and physical activity of more than 150 minutes and less than 300 minutes per week reduced the prevalence of 43% of the general population and 52% of patients with disease. Physical activity over 300 minutes per week had a 38% reduction in the prevalence of depression in the general population. Conclusions This study suggests that the level of physical activity suggested by the ACSM guidelines is appropriate to reduce the prevalence of depression. In addition, the patients with the disease was found to be effective with less frequency and amount of physical activity than the general person.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between QTc interval and maximal oxygen consumption(V˙O2max) and body fat distribution in middle-aged men. Abnormal subjects (QTc interval, ≥440ms, n=10) and normal subjects(≤430ms, n=11) using QTc interval based on the Bazzet's equation were involved in the study. After overnight fasting, blood and blood pressure were measured. Abdominal fat area and regional fat compartment were measured by computed tomography(CT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA), respectively. For V˙O2max, the subjects underwent a maximal graded exercise test on a cycling ergometer. Abnormal group was significantly higher in SBP, basal insulin, HOMA-IR, and leg fat compared with normal. There was a significant relationship(r=.614, p=.03) between QTc interval and V˙O2max in all subjects. Also, partial correlation analysis showed a significant relationship(r=.480, p=.032) between the QTc interval and V˙O2max. Having a QTc interval outside normal range significantly worsened risk parameters for metabolic syndrome, in particular blood pressure and insulin resistance. Moreover, QTc interval was strongly correlated with cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged men. This study indicates that further study will be needed to assess the exercise training effects on QTc interval.
PURPOSE This study compared the spatiotemporal gait parameters and kinetic variables of lower extremity joints during gait between normal and presarcopenia groups of middle-aged women. METHODS Middle-aged women participants (n=24) were divided into two groups based on the Appendicular Lean Mass Index (ALMI): a normal group (n=12) and a presarcopenia group (n=12). During walking by each group, spatio-temporal gait variables and the maximum moments and net joint power of the ankle, knee, and hip joints in different directions were calculated and compared using independent samples t-tests with IBM SPSS 27.0 software. RESULTS The normal group and the presarcopenia group showed no statistically significant differences in spatiotemporal gait variables. However, during the shock absorption phase of gait, the presarcopenia group showed significantly higher maximum knee abduction, maximum knee internal rotation, and maximum hip external rotation moments than the normal group. Additionally, the presarcopenia group exhibited significantly higher maximum net knee power during the shock absorption phase. Conversely, during the propulsion phase of gait, the normal group exhibited significantly higher maximum net ankle power than the presarcopenia group. CONCLUSIONS Middle-aged women with presarcopenia experienced higher knee joint loading and lower ankle joint propulsion during walking, indicating the need for training to improve lower limb strength.
PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of 12 weeks of clubbell and stepbox training on physical fitness, badminton skills, and fatigue in male badminton, grade A (top grade) club members aged 20–30s, with over 5 years’ experience. METHODS Participants in a training group (TR: n=15) engaged in 12 weeks of clubbell and stepbox circuit training involving maximum 8–12 reps of clubbell exercises and stepbox exercises at over 77% of HRmax for 50–55 min/sessions three times a week. Participants in a control group (CON: n=15) maintained their normal lifestyle pattern during the same intervention period. Dependent variables were measured and compared using repeated measures two-way ANOVA. RESULTS The main results were as follows: 1) The groups showed no significant differences in body composition. 2) Regarding physical fitness, VO2max, relative peak power, relative average power, grip strength, push ups, repeated jump squats, SSPT (seated single-arm shot-put test), 10 m sprint, and hexagon agility increased significantly in the TR, while push ups decreased significantly in the CON. 3) As for badminton skills, forehand clear accuracy, badminton agility, badminton endurance, and smash speed increased significantly in the TR. Forehand clear accuracy decreased significantly in the CON, but badminton agility and smash speed increased significantly. 4) The groups showed no significant differences in fatigue. CONCLUSIONS In male badminton club members aged 20–30s, 12 weeks of clubbell and stepbox circuit training effectively improved physical fitness and badminton skills. However, lack of any improvement in body composition and fatigue warranted further research in these areas.
