Effect of a Public Health Center Exercise Program on Physical Fitness Factors, Body Weight, Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure in Elderly Women

Abstract

Purpose: The study examined the effect of exercise public health center exercise program on strength, balance, body composition and blood pressure in healthy elderly women. Method: Thirty healthy elderly women were divided into three 12-week exercise groups: Tai-Chi (n=10), silver dance (n=10), and band exercise (n=10). The results were analyzed by two-way repeated ANOVA and paired t-test using SPSS 12.0 program. Results: Body weight and body mass index were significantly decreased in the Tai-Chi and silver dance groups. In addition, there was a significant increase in balance time and reduced diastolic blood pressure in Tai-Chi participant. Grip strength was significantly increased in Tai-Chi and silver dance participants, but there was no effect in the band exercise group. Agility was significantly increased in the band exercise group. Conclusion: Tai-Chi and silver dance may be beneficial to improve fitness of elderly people, although the details remain to be elucidated.