We studied the effects of exercise on the blood fluidity. The subjects were 18 healthy males (21.6±0.8 yr, control : 5, soccer : 9, gymnastics : 4) . We measured the filtration time of whole blood by the Nuclepore filtration method as an index of blood fluidity. The filtration time at rest in the control group, soccer group, and gymnastics group was 59.8±11.9s, 42.5±15.1 s, 28.6±6.7s, respec tively. The filtration time at rest in the soccer group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (p<0.001) . There were no significant differences in filtration time at rest between the control and gymnastics groups, and between the soccer and gymnastics groups. The filtration time after single aerobic exercise was significantly prolonged compared with that before (p<0.001) . The filtration time before and after anaerobic exercise and muscular exercise was not significantly changed. The degree of filtration time prolongation was significantly lower in groups who drank water compared to groups who did not (p<0.001) . The effect of taking a sauna on filtration time was not significant. These results indicates the effect of aerobic exercise on blood fluidity, and the importance of water intake during exercise.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate differences in physical function by bone mass category as assessed by speed of sound, and the association between bone mass and physical function in Japanese elderly women. METHODS: Participants (≥65 years, n = 954) were divided into the osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal groups based on speed of sound values, and physical function parameters were compared among groups. In addition, the predictive ability of physical function for low bone mass was determined by area under the curve analysis. Data were collected in 4 cities in Nara, Japan, in 2007 or 2008. RESULTS: All physical functions were significantly lower in the osteoporotic group than in the normal group. Lower bone mass was associated with poor muscle strength and physical function after adjusting for age, height and weight. In addition, one-leg standing time and 10-m gait time were predictive of low bone mass (osteopenia and osteoporosis levels, respectively). Elderly women with low physical function, especially those with a short one-leg standing time, should be suspected of having decreased bone mass. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of physical function can effectively identify elderly women with low bone mass at an early stage without the need for bone mass measurements. In particular, one-leg standing time and 10-m gait time were good predictors of low bone mass, and is easy to measure, low-cost, and can be self-measured. These findings will be helpful in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Japan ; Muscle Strength ; Osteoporosis ; Ultrasonography*