PURPOSE: This study aims to verify the effects of Pilates exercise using the three-dimensional (3D) Schroth breathing technique on scoliosis patients in comparison with the existing Pilates exercise technique, which uses lateral breathing. METHODS: The subjects were 16 scoliosis patients who went to S fitness center in Daegu, Korea. They were randomly and equally divided into a Schroth Pilates exercise group (SPEG), who performed Pilates exercise using 3D Schroth breathing, and a Pilates exercise group (PEG) who performed Pilates exercise using lateral breathing. The subjects conducted the Pilates exercise three times per week for 12 weeks. Changes in their Cobb's angle, angle of trunk rotation, and chest expansion ability were measured before and after the exercise. RESULTS: Both groups experienced significant improvement in their Cobb's angle, angle of trunk rotation, and chest expansion ability after the exercise (p < 0.05). Between-group comparison after the exercise showed that SPEG's improvement in Cobb's angle, angle of trunk rotation, and chest expansion ability were more significant than those of the PEG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study verified that Pilates exercise using 3D Schroth breathing was more effective in improving scoliosis patients' physical condition than existing Pilates exercise. The researcher anticipates that the 3D Schroth breathing technique will be effectively utilized in other diverse intervention exercises besides Pilates exercise.
Daegu ; Exercise ; Fitness Centers ; Humans ; Korea ; Respiration* ; Scoliosis* ; Thorax

This study was conducted in order to investigate body awareness and dietary life according to gender. Subjects of the study were 120 men and 127 women aged 20 to 30 years, who exercise regularly at a fitness center in Seoul. The subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire on body awareness, reason for regular exercise, dietary behaviors, and nutrition knowledge. The percentage of overweight and obesity was 69.2% in men, and 25.2% in women. The percentage of subjects who considered themselves as overweight was 38.3% in men and 59.8% in women. Intake of protein in men was higher than the recommended nutrient intake (RNI). Intake of energy in women was lower than the estimated energy requirement (EER). Men who considered themselves as overweight showed lower energy intake than men who considered their body weight as under and normal, whereas no difference in energy intake was observed between women who considered themselves as overweight and women who considered their body weight as under and normal.
Adult* ; Body Weight ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Fitness Centers ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Surveys and Questionnaires

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of prospectively-collected data. OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with conversion from conservative to surgical treatment in single-level lumbar spinal stenosis patients. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Various reports have presented clinical outcomes after the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis. However, few reports have investigated factors predicting conversion to surgery during the course of conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 40 patients who visited our hospital from May 2010 to May 2015 and were traceable for at least 3 years after being advised to undergo surgery following 3 months of conservative treatment. Of these patients, 20 underwent surgery and 20 did not. We then investigated the factors associated with conversion to surgical treatment. Clinical assessments were conducted using a questionnaire, and the overall area of the spinal canal and the muscle area within the spinal canal were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The average area of the spinal canal was 81.40±53.61 mm2 in the surgical group, compared to 127.75±82.55 mm2 in the nonsurgical group (p=0.042). The muscle area in the spinal canal was 5.17±1.30 cm2 in the surgical group, whereas it was 6.40±1.56 cm2 in the nonsurgical group (p=0.010). The patients in the surgical group were more likely to have experienced repetitive strain and to have frequently visited health clubs (p=0.047, p=0.037, respectively). However, regular stretching was more common in the nonsurgical group (p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The factors associated with conversion to surgical treatment were a narrow spinal canal, a small muscle area within the spinal canal, visiting health clubs, repetitive sprain, and not stretching. A small muscle area within the spinal canal can be considered as a key factor related to surgical conversion.
Fitness Centers ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Stenosis ; Sprains and Strains

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare of adult body composition and body image before and after regular exercise program at a sports center. METHOD: The participants were 32 adults who were beginning regular exercise at a sports center in D city. The body composition was measured by body weight, soft lean mass, fat mass, percent body fat, fat distribution, degree of obesity and BMI, using the Inbody 3.0. Body image. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using paired t-test. RESULTS: 1. Significant improvement was shown in body composition. 2. The score for body image increased after the program, but the change was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The short-term exercise program was very effective in improving body composition, but changes in the evaluation of body image need long-term exercise. Also, we were concluded that it is very important to consider preference level when evaluating body composition and body image.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult* ; Body Composition* ; Body Image* ; Body Weight ; Fitness Centers* ; Humans ; Obesity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sports

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the effects of an exercise program on physical fitness, cardiopulmonary function and life satisfaction for adult women. METHOD: The exercise program combined dance and resistance training. The subject group consisted of 114 women aged between 33 and 60. Three 8-week sessions consisted of 55-80% HR max for 60-90 minutes a day and 3 times a week from March to November, 2004. Data were collected through pre- and post-exercise tests before and after each session. Data were collected with dynamometer, sphygmomamometer, spirometer and structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed employing descriptive statistics and paired t-test with SPSS/PC(10.0version) program. RESULTS: There were significantly positive changes in muscle strength, flexibility, balance quality, forced vital capacity and life satisfaction, but no significantly positive changes in agility and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: This study showed that an exercise program has partially positive effects for adult women. The results of this study suggest that there should be programs of continuous exercise at community health centers for adult women's health.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Community Health Centers ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Physical Fitness* ; Pliability ; Resistance Training ; Vital Capacity ; Women's Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on quality of life (QOL) and physical ability in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Patients with MI who were referred to the Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Center 2 weeks after percutaneous coronary intervention were divided into CR and non-CR groups. The CR group performed supervised exercises 3 times a week for 2 months. QOL assessment, using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and physical ability evaluation were performed at the beginning and end of CR. RESULTS: The CR group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in physical functioning (PF), physical role functioning (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social role functioning (SF), emotional role functioning (RE), mental health (MH), physical component summary (PCS), and mental component summary (MCS). The non-CR group showed improvement in RP. Secondary outcomes, including resting heart rate (RHR), maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)), metabolic equivalent of task (MET), maximal exercise time (ET(max)), stage 3 Borg rating of perceived exertion (3RPE), maximal Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPEmax), and stage 3 rate pressure product (3RPP), improved in the CR group. The non-CR group showed improvements in VO(2max), MET, ET(max), and 3RPE. There were significant differences in improvements in PF, RP, BP, VT, SF, MH, MCS, RHR, VO(2max), MET, ET(max), 3RPE, and 3RPP between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Male patients with MI demonstrated improvements in QOL and physical ability following hospital-based CR; the impact on the mental component was greater than that on the physical component.
Exercise ; Health Surveys ; Heart Rate ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Metabolic Equivalent ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Oxygen Consumption ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Physical Fitness ; Quality of Life* ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Rehabilitation*

PURPOSE: The purpose was to identify the effects of a Tai Chi exercise program on physical fitness, fall related perception and health status among institutionalized elderly. METHODS: A quasi-experimental research was carried out with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 23 subjects in the experimental group and 24 in the control group. The data was gathered by structured questionnaires about fall related perception, and health status. Physical fitness was measured by an exercise therapist with a blind principle. RESULTS: At the completion of the 12 weeks Tai Chi exercise program, flexibility (F=4.50, p=.00), and ability to balance (F=3.27, p=.00) had increased significantly. Fall related perception showed significant improvement in the fear of falling (F=-3.52, p=.00). Physical functioning (F=3.38, p=.00), role limitationphysical (F=2.67, p=.01), role limitation-emotional (F=2.47, p=.02). and general health (F=3.88, p=.00) in health status showed significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The study findings revealed Tai Chi exercise as a useful nursing intervention for elderly that enhances flexibility and balance, decreases fall related perception and also increases the health status. Further research is warranted to compare the potential effects of Tai Chi exercise and its health benefits from other types of exercise or martial arts.
Accidental Falls/*prevention & control ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Community Health Centers ; Female ; Health Behavior ; *Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; *Physical Fitness ; Pliability ; Program Development ; Questionnaires ; Range of Motion, Articular ; *Tai Ji