The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of walk training on leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait in home bound elderly women. Eighteen elderly women of the experimental group aged between 70 and 90 years image who have normal vision, hearing and Romberg test. They participated in the 12 week walk training. The subjects of the experimental group practiced walk training 3 times a week for during 12 weeks. During the 40 minute workout, the subjects practiced 5 minutes of warming-up exercises, 30 minutes of conditioning exercises and 10 minutes of a cool-down exercise. The intensity for the conditioning phase was determined by subject' heart rates, which ranged from 60% to 70% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The body composition, leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. The body fat, lean body mass, leg strength (ankle dorsiflexor, plantarflexor, inversor and eversir, knee flexor, extensior), flexibility (range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion and eversion), and postural stability of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group. Duration of standing on the right foot and that of standing on the left foot of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Among 13 items for balance, the scores of experimental group in balance with eyes closes, turning balance, sternal nudge, neck turning, one leg standing balance and back extension were higher than those of the control group. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the walking training. Scores of experimental group in step height, step length and walk stance while walking among 9 items for gait were significantly higher than those of the control group. The results suggest that walk training can improve physical fitness for prevention in home bound elderly women.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged* ; Ankle ; Body Composition ; Cool-Down Exercise ; Exercise ; Female ; Foot ; Gait ; Hearing ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Knee ; Leg ; Neck ; Physical Fitness* ; Pliability ; Walking ; Warm-Up Exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.
Aged* ; Female ; Gait* ; Hearing ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Leg* ; Music ; Walking

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.
Aged* ; Female ; Gait* ; Hearing ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Leg* ; Music ; Walking

No abstract available.
Diffusion* ; Teicoplanin*

This study was alone to identify the meaning and the essence of the menopause experience by means of the Colaizzi's phenomenological method. The participants were eight women, 48-60 years old, who were experiencing perimenopause or postmenopause. They were selected using a theoretical sampling technique. Data were collected through in-depth interviews from April 6 to May 20, 1999. The interviews took from 40 to 90 minutes. Interviews were tape- recorded and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Significant statements from data were extracted. From these formulated meanings, 18 themes, 8 clusters of themes and 3 catagories were constructed. Final descriptions were found to be valid through the interviewee validation process. Essential themes of the menopausal experience which emerged were "coming of change", "inclined to deny the in mind", and "adapted life". Menopause, as coming of change was the turning point in the women's life cycle acompaning changes, in body and mind and marital life changes. Especially, the unpredictable menopausal changes were an opportunity to hide the fact of menopause and not to talk with anybody. Such a phenomenon reflected on the psychological attributes of menopausal woman such as an inclination to deny in the mind. Their experiences of menopause as adapted life were generally regarded as signalling the end of fertility and were interpreted as a natural developmental process that indicates a life transition. In conclusion, participants depicted the menopause as a natural stage in the life cycle. In order to help women have a positive life change and self accomplishment, nurses need to understand the essential themes of the menopausal experience. Thus, the importance of an open approach in eliciting the phenomena of menopause cannot be overemphasized. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that exercise program is one of the effective interventions to improve the self-efficacy and also to lower the fatigue in the sample of female college students.
Climacteric ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; Menopause ; Perimenopause ; Postmenopause

PURPOSE: To identify age, gender, medication, seasons and place of fall, and areas of the fractures from the fall among the hospitalized elderly patients in order to provide the basic data for future fall prevention program for the elderly. METHODS: This study was conducted for 106 elderly patients admitted into a university hospital by fractures from the fall during the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999. Data on the age, gender, medication, season and place of the fall, areas of the fracture were collected based on their medical records. RESULT: The age range of the subjects were from 60 to 96 years old. The subjects were aged between 60-69 years old 49(46.2%), between 70-79 years old 31(29.2%), between 80-89 years old 24(22.6%), and over 90 years old 2(1.9%). Male patients comprised was 34(28.3%), while female patients comprised 76(71.7%). The fall occurred in Winter most frequently 34(32%). The place of the fall included room 81(76.4%), streets 13(12.3%), bathroom 6(5.7%), stair 4(3.8%), and mountain 2(1.9%). Twenty-two subjects (20.8%) had medication regularly, while 84 subjects (79.2%) had no medication. The areas of the fracture from the fall included upper extremities 20(18.9%) and lower extremities 86(81.1%). Radius fracture (7.5%) was the area where the fracture occurred most frequently in upper extremities and femur fracture (52.8%) was the area where the fracture occurred most frequently in lower extremities. A significant difference was found in the fracture area by age, season and place of the fall (p<.05). No significant difference was found in the fracture area by gender and medication. In all age groups, seasons and places of the fall, occurrence of fracture in lower extremity was significantly higher than that in upper extremity.
Aged* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Medical Records ; Radius Fractures ; Seasons ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND: Alexithymia refers to a specific disturbance in psychic functioning characterized by difficulties in capacity to verbalize affect and to elaborate fantasies. Although initially described in the context of psychosomatic illness, alexithymic characteristics may be observed in patients with a wide range of medical and psychiatric disorders. OBJECTIVE: The present study was to evaluate the relationship between the alexithymia and bronchial asthma, and to compare the results with finding from a group of acute infectious illness subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Alexithymia was measured with on Korean translation of the TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymic Scale-20 Korea version) and the Scored Archetypal 9 Test(SAT9). Thirty patients with bronchial asthma and thirty patients with acute infectious illness completed these tests. The SAT9 and the TAS-20K scores were compared in the both group, considering the age, gender, education level, and duration of illness. RESULT: Bronchial asthma patients had significantly higher score of on the TAS-20K and SAT9 compared with those with infectious illness(p<0.05). The two scales correlated in expected direction. Alexithymia was significantly related to education level(SAT9: r=0.335, TAS-20K: r=-0.376, p<0.01) and duration of illness(asthma group, SAT9: r=-0.383, TAS-20K: r=0.288, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bronchial asthma patients had significantly higher alexithymic scores. This finding suggests that psycliathic consultation may be considered for the management of asthmatic patients with alexithyria.
Affective Symptoms* ; Asthma* ; Education ; Fantasy ; Humans ; Korea ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (K-PASE) from PASE and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the K-PASE. This scale was originally developed by Washburn et al. (1993). A valid and reliable physical activity scale for the elderly is needed to assess accurately physical activity of the elderly, because there has been no valid and reliable physical activity scale for the elderly in Korea. METHODS: The K-PASE was developed from PASE through linguistic validation and cultural adaptation for use with this population. Convenient sampling was used to recruit participants. Reliability was evaluated by conducting the test-retest and convergent validity was evaluated by Pearson correlation. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability, assessed over a 2 week interval, was r=.94. Convergent validity was established by correlating the K-PASE scores between related variables which were the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) and hand-grip strength. Scores of the K-PASE had a low significant correlation with TMIG-IC (r=.246, p<.001), and hand-grip strength (r=.251, p<.001). The mean score of physical activity of Korean elderly assessed by the K-PASE was 96.5. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the K-PASE is a reliable and valid instrument to assess physical activity for Korean elderly.
Aged ; Geriatrics ; Humans ; Korea ; Linguistics ; Mental Competency ; Motor Activity ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tokyo

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study was to identify the health status, health-related life habits, activities of daily living and biophysical index of the elderly in Korea and Japan respectively, and to compare the Korean elderly with those of the Japanese elderly. METHOD: Two hundred ninety five elderly from Korea and 325 elderly from Japan, aged over 65 years were conveniently recruited from welfare centers in both countries. Health status, health-related life habits, and activities of daily living were assessed by self-report questionnaires. BMI, lean body mass, body fat, body fat rate, muscle area of limbs and grip strength were measured for biophysical indices. Descriptive statistics, non paired t-test and Chi-square test were used to describe and to compare the levels of these variables. RESULTS: The mean scores on frequencies of Korean and Japanese elders' chronic diseases were 2.9 and 0.8. The mean scores on activities of daily living were 9.8 and 12.4 respectively. The Korean elderly had higher mean scores of BMI, and body fat rate than The Japanese elderly, and showed lower mean scores of muscle areas of the lower extremities and grip strength. Hypertension was the most prevalent disease in the both groups. CONCLUSION: Significant differences in several variables of health status, health-related life habits, activities of daily living and biophysical index were noted between the Korean and Japanese elderly.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Adipose Tissue ; Aged* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Chronic Disease ; Extremities ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Japan ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: A tourniquet is often used during limb surgery to minimize surgical bleeding and to keep the clear surgical field. However the tourniquet is associated with severe hemodynamic changes and tourniquet-induced hypertension. We investigated the incidences of tourniquet-induced hypertension by tourniquet duration and anesthetic methods. METHODS: One hundred thirteen patients who underwent a total knee arthroplasty were assigned into four groups according to the types of anesthesia; general anesthesia (group I, n = 30), general anesthesia and intravenous adjuvants (group II, n = 30), general and epidural anesthesia (group III, n = 22), and spinal anesthesia (group IV, n = 31). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded at ward, before induction, one minute after tourniquet inflation and every 10 minutes until 60 mininutes. The extremity was exsanguinated and a tourniquet pressure of 350 mmHg (9 cm width) was applied in all groups. RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure increased in group I and II during the tourniquet inflation period. The incidence of tourniquet-induced hypertension was higher in group I (6.7%) than other groups but there was no statistical significance among the groups. Heart rates were not changed in any groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the shorter the tourniquet time the less the occurrence of tourniquet-induced hypertension under any type of anesthesia.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Arterial Pressure ; Arthroplasty* ; Extremities ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Incidence ; Inflation, Economic ; Knee* ; Tourniquets*