Abstract
OBJECTIVE:To compare Kendo players with active elderly adults in terms of quality of life, functional aspects (muscle strength, postural balance) and body composition.METHODS:This was a controlled cross-sectional study. Twenty elderly individuals were divided into two groups: the Kendo group, with an average age of 71.8 (5.4) years, and the Control group, with an average age of 73.1 (4.8) years. Quality of life was evaluated using a questionnaire (WHOQOL-bref and WHOQOL-old); body composition was evaluated with a bioimpedance scale (InBody230); hand-grip strength was assessed with a portable manual dynamometer (Jamar SH 5001); flexor and extensor muscle strength of the knees was evaluated with an isokinetic device (Biodex® System 3 model Biodex Multi Joint System, BIODEX); and dynamic balance was assessed using a force platform (Balance Master System, Neurocom International, Inc.,® Clackamas County, Oregon, USA).RESULTS:The groups were statistically homogeneous in terms of socio-demographic characterization, body composition, muscle strength, and dynamic balance, but the Control group was faster in the sit-to-stand test (p=0.03). The Kendo group had a statistically significantly better quality of life; in the WHOQOL-bref, these differences were present in the physical (p≤0.001) and environment (p=0.004) domains, and in the WHOQOL-old, these differences were present in social participation (p=0.001) and in past, present, and future activities (p=0.019).CONCLUSION:The results suggest that Kendo is a health-promoting activity that improves the quality of life, functional aspects (muscle strength and postural balance) and body composition of players.
Highlights
With increased life expectancy, there is a growing interest in the study of quality of life (QoL) with the aim of recognizing healthy populations and highlighting their healthpromoting practices
The inclusion criteria for both groups were as follows: male volunteers aged X60 years who were autonomous and had a positive self-perception of their health, regardless of comorbidities; absence of vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, or neurological impairment and/or any mental disturbances or disorders; no use of medications that might compromise postural balance or that interfere with musculoskeletal metabolism; absence of lesions, surgery, or disease over the previous six months that might cause lower-limb joint limitations; absence of any lower-limb dysmetria; presence of clinically normal gait without claudication
Quality of Life Assessment The Kendo group showed a statistically significantly higher QoL; on the WHOQOL-bref, these differences were evident in the physical and environment domains, and on the WHOQOL-old, these differences were evident in social participation and in past, present, and future activities (Table 2)
Summary
There is a growing interest in the study of quality of life (QoL) with the aim of recognizing healthy populations and highlighting their healthpromoting practices. It is important to identify cultural groups to study the strategies they have adopted and to disclose different ways of ageing well [1]. From this perspective, the improved QoL of the population must be considered a primary objective of our activities as scientists and clinicians [2].
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