야외운동기구를 이용한 복합 운동프로그램이 여성노인의 건강관련 체력과 혈당 및 말초동맥에 미치는 영향

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effect of complex exercise program using outdoor exercise equipment on health-related physical strength, blood glucose and peripheral arteries of elderly women. To this end, in this study, 12-week exercise program targeting 19 elderly women aged over 65 (9 in the exercise group, 10 in the control group), who resided in the Jeollanam-do Province and did not engage in physical activities regularly, was carried out. As a result, the following conclusion was obtained. First, upon measuring the health-related physical strength of the elderly women, the cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength of the lower body and muscular endurance of elderly women in the exercise group were improved significantly after exercise, showing a significant difference between the exercise and control groups. The exercise group showed improvements in the flexibility and balance, but showing no significant difference. As for quickness, there was no significant difference between before and after exercise, as well as between the exercise and control groups. Second, as a result of measuring changes in the blood glucose of the elderly women, the exercise group showed a significant decrease in the blood glucose; and a significant difference in the blood glucose was also shown between before and after exercise and between the exercise and control groups. Third, in measuring changes in the peripheral arteries of the elderly women, no significant difference was found between before and after exercise as well as between the exercise and control groups. As stated above, it was confirmed that the 12-week complex exercise program using outdoor exercise equipment had a positive effect on the improvement of health-related physical strength and on lowering blood glucose. Further study needs to be conducted on a larger number of subjects and present a more variety of exercise programs to improve the health of the elderly.