RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHYSICAL FITNESS ELEMENTS OF HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS : GENDER AND AGE DIFFERENCES
- VernacularTitle:健常高齢者における体力要素間の関連性: 性差及び年代差
- Author:
MASAKI MINAMI
;
SHINICHI DEMURA
;
YOSHINORI NAGASAWA
;
NOBUHIKO TADA
;
JINZABURO MATSUZAWA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
physical fitness element;
relationship;
older adult;
gender difference;
age difference
- From:Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
2001;50(5):571-582
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between physical fitness elements in healthy older adults, considering the differences between gender and between age. Subjects were 1042 active and non-injured people aged from 60 years to under 90 years. The subjects were classified into two different age groups of under 75 years group and 75 years and over group. A total of 11 variables representing four physical fitness elements (muscular, joint, neural, and respiratory functions) were selected through examination of safety and validity. Two-way ANOVA was used to examine gender and age differences in each physical fitness element. Pearson's correlation coefficient and partial correlation coefficient excluding age factor were calculated for each gender and age group.
As a result of examining the relationship among physical fitness elements, the correlation coefficients within variables consisting of the following each function, muscular function, joint function and agility of extremities, were significant in both age groups, and these tendencies were consistent in both gender groups. Similarly, significant correlation coefficients between standing-reach and muscular function variables, and between trunk twist and foot balance with eyes open and reaction time were found in the under 75 years group, but not in the over 75 years group. On the other hand, different tendencies between genders were found in the relationship between the muscular function variables and trunk twist and foot balance with eyes open, and between the reaction time and stepping and muscular function variables. As the relationships among physical fitness elements tended to decline in the over 75 years group, it is inferred that this tendency is influenced by the change with aging of physical fitness characteristics and environmental factors around the older adults.
