The Effects of a Stretching Exercise Program in Elderly Women.
10.4040/jkan.2004.34.1.123
- Author:
Yi Soon KIM
1
;
Ihn Sook JEONG
;
Hyang Mi JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, College of Natural Science, Dong-eui University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Stretch;
Exercise;
Elderly;
Women
- MeSH:
Activities of Daily Living;
Aged;
*Exercise;
Female;
*Health Promotion;
Humans;
*Physical Fitness
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2004;34(1):123-131
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify the effects of a ten-week stretching exercise program on physiological, psychological functions, and activities of daily living(ADL) among elderly women. METHOD: Using a quasi-experimental design, the experimental group received a ten-week stretching exercise program 3 times a week from March to May in 2002. They were divided into 22 persons in the experimental groups in 2 halls where the program was incorporated, and 22 persons in the control group in 2 halls, where the program wasnot incorporated. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test, and ANCOVA was considered significant as a 2-tailed test. RESULT: There was a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure(P=0.023), total cholesterol (P=0.019), triglycerides (P=0.002), spine ROM(P=0.000), trunk and hip-joint ROM(P=0.000), percent of body fat(P=0.039) as physiological functions, depression(P=0.041) as a psychological function, and activities of daily living(P=0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: A stretching exercise program showed good effects on improving physiological functions, psychological functions and activities of daily living among the elderly women in a city. Therefore, we recommend this program be utilized as a health promoting program for the elderly in the community.
