The purpose of this study was to determine the growth and developmental changes and the sex difference in anthropometric characteristics, muscular strength, and flexibility in 205 junior high school competitive swimmers.
Factor analytic technique was applied to three different correlation matrices, each of which consisted of 14, 12, and 15 selected variables in anthropometric characteristics, muscular strength, and flexibility domains, respectively.
The main results can be summarized as follows;
1) Among 2 extracted factors representing anthropometric characteristics domain, physique (factor 1) grew gradually as the age increased in both sexes. Amount of the physique growth for boys was, however, greater than that for girls. Physique of boys in the 8th and 9th grades was larger than that of girls.
Body fat (factor 2) for girls appeared to be greater than that for boys.
2) Among 3 extracted factors representing muscular strength domain, static strength (factor 1) developed gradually as the age increased in the both sexes. Amount of the development for boys was greater than that for girls, and this ability of boys was greater than that of girls.
Muscular endurance in fast muscular exercise (factor 2) for boys became to be greater than that for girls as the age increased.
Dynamic strength of shoulder-arm girdle (factor 3) for boys of the 8th and 9th grades was greater than that for girls.
3) Among 6 extracted factors reprsenting flexibility domain, trunk rotation flexibility (factor 2) and ankle extension and mobility flexibility (factor 5) for girls were much greater than those for boys.
Trunk extension and flexion flexibility (factor 6) for girls seemed to be greater than that for boys. Development of this ability in accordance age increase was found only in boys.
In contrast, no differences between sex were found in trunk lateral flexibility (fator 1) and shoulder flexibility (factor 4) .

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the problems of the Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale when applied to Japanese independent community-dwelling elderly focusing on its factor structure. Methods: The subjects were 1791 community-dwelling independent elderly aged 60 and over (848 males and 943 females). This study used the Japanese version of the CES-D scale to assess depression in the elderly. Results: From the results of an exploratory factor analysis, the four factors of somatic symptoms, depression affect, positive affect and relation with others were interpreted. These factors were the same as those in the previous study, but the items making up each subscale differed. Therefore, the construct validity of each subscale was not necessarily assured. In the confirmatory factor analysis, goodness-of-fit was high for both the first and second-order factor models. In examining the validity by Akaike's information criterion (AIC), the second-order factor model assuming depression as a higher-order factor among the four factors was a better fit than the first-order factor model. Although the reliability of each subscale was not sufficient, adequate reliability was assured in the total scale. Conclusion: An assessment of depression using the Japanese version of the CES-D scale should be conducted using the total score, while a re-examination of items making up each subscale is needed.
Japanese language ; 2-Chloroethyl 2-(4-1,1-dimethylethyl) phenoxy-1 methylethyl ester ; Upper case dee ; Elderly ; Cancer patients and suicide and depression

The purpose of this study was to clarify the application range and utility of an ADL index for disabled elderly people (Demura et al., 2000), by examining the ADL characteristics of an elderly population when this index was applied to disabled and independent elderly people. Subjects of this study were 697 Japanese institutionalized disabled elderly people and 482 independent elderly people (ID) living at home. Disabled elderly people were classified into four groups based on conditions of use of assisting devices for movement; D1 did not use assisting devices; D2 used a stick or a walker; D3 used a wheelchair; D4 was immobile. From the findings of comparing achievement proportions, ADL score and the distribution of total score among elderly groups, it was suggested that this ADL index can assess gradually from disabled elderly people who cannot move to independent elderly people. Since this index classifies independent elderly people and disabled elderly people with high probability, it can evaluate if elderly people can maintain a functional level needed for independent living, and can recognize the symptoms of disability. Furthermore, this study proposed useful activities to discriminate the functional level for each elderly group. Although it is important to comprehensively assess ADL ability, further use of this ADL index to discriminate the functional level of an elderly population, by making use of these useful activities, is expected.
Elderly ; Activities of Daily Living ; Disabled Persons ; Persons ; livin

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in physical fitness between aged gateball players (mean age =72.4yrs.) and people not engaged in exercise (mean age=72.4yrs.), ranging in age from 59 to 89 years.
The sample sizes are as follows ; gateball players : male=68, female=36/people not engaged in exercise : male =21, female =52.
A total of 11 tests representing each physical fitness domain were selected, considering aged people's physical condition.
These tests and the questionnaire on their health and exercise participation were administered to them.
A two-way analysis of variance was used to determine the differences of 11 physical fitness elements.
The results can be summarized as follows:
1. Aged gateball players are more self-confident about their health and physical fitness than people not engaged in exercise with a similar age. The latter tend to complain about their health conditions more frequently.
2. Male gateball players showed significant higher scores in vertical jump and sit-andreach tests, and female gateball players in a tapping test, as compared with people not engaged in exercise.
Overall, gateball players seemed to be healthier and to possess better physical fitness.
3. Although a significant difference in standing height was found between gateball players and people not engaged in exercise in females, this was considered to depend mainly on the difference of standing posture.
4. From examining correlations between the age and physical fitness elements, gateball exercise seemed to be useful to keep up aged people's health and to prevent their physical fitness from declining.

The difference in vascular reaction to cold among 5 groups of 17 swimmers with experience of 3 years or longer, 13 swimmers with experience of 2 years or less, 12 track and field athletes, 7 gymnasts and 9 non-athletes were studied. Four components which are useful indexes of cold tolerance showed statistically significant differences among 5 groups. From test results of linear comparison between each group, it was determined that athletes compared with non-athletes, and swimmers with other athletes possess better cold tolerance. But there was no significant difference between swimmers with different types in swimming experience years or between outdoor-and indoor-athletes.

As physical elements appear to relate independently to the achievement in each running performance, it may be appropriate to separate the general population into several groups when physical traits specific to the achievement in each running performance are investigated. For this reason, the following four groups were arbitrary set: Group FF with higher running speed in both 100m and 10km runs, Group SS with slower running speed in both 100m and 10km runs, Group FS with higher running speed only in 100m run, and Group SF with higer running speed only 10km run. The purpose of this study was to compare physical elements and their developmental balance between 4 different groups in terms of running ability. The subjects were 166 high school boys aged 15 to 18 (X=16.9yr) . Within the limitation of the present study, the folowing conclusions were drawn:
1) Group SS was much inferior to the other groups in many tests representing power, agility, balance, coordination, and leg muscular endurance. This group also possessed higher body fat. And scores in such traits as power and agility were significantly higher in FF group than in SF group.
2) Factor analysis showed that physical fitness domain represented by 30 variables would be divided into six factors. While group SS possessed greater body bulk (F1) than the other groups, it had much inferior ability in power and agility (F5) . Cardio-respiratory function (F4) was significantly better in FF and SF groups as compared with SS and FS groups. However, no distinct differences existed beween groups in any of static strength (F2), body linearity (F3), and flexibility (F6) factors.
3) Finally, this study supports the hypothesis that the developmental balance of physical elements is specific to each running group. Particularly, it is interesting to note that group SS showed higher scres in body bulk and lower scores in cardio-respiratory function, power and agility as compared with scores in the other factors.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the activity groupings reflecting functional characteristics required in daily life for the institutionalized dependent females in the old-old elderly group, by examining the interrelationships of activities based on actual achievement characteristics. Methods: The participants were 697 dependent elderly living at welfare institutions in Japan and 344 old-old females were used for analysis. Factor analysis, based on Promax with the Kaiser Normalization method, was conducted using 74 activities of daily living (ADL) items to determine activity groups. Furthermore, whether each activity group could be classified into sub-groups was confirmed by applying factor analysis to the activities consisting of each activity group. Results: Four activity groups of lower extremity activities, manual activities, changing and holding posture activities, and upper extremity and dexterous manual activities were interpreted. Except for the manual activity group, these activity groups were classified into two sub-groups. Conclusions: These activity groupings were characterized by similarities of the body parts used in achievement and the difficulty of activity. The activity groupings obtained in this study are considered to be useful in ADL assessment focusing on evaluating functional characteristics of the dependent elderly.
Elderly ; Old episode ; Manuals ; livin ; g <3>

Age and gender differences in ADL ability were investigated using 568 Japanese partially dependent older people (PD, Mean age=82.2 ±7.76 years) living in welfare institutions. The subjects were asked about 17 ADL items representing 7 ADL domains by the professional staff working at subjects’ institutions. Each item was assessed by a dichotomous scale of “possible” or “impossible”. Item proportions of “possible” response were calculated for gender and age groups (60s, 70s, 80s and 90s). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the arcsine transformation method indicated no gender differences. Significant decreases in ADL ability with aging were found in 13 of the 17 items. The dependency of ADL in the PD significantly increases with aging, and there is no significant difference in this trend between men and women. The dependency of more difficult activities using lower limb increase from the 70s, and independency of low-difficult activities such as manual activities, feeding and changing posture while lying is maintained until the 80s and over.
Activities of Daily Living ; Ability ; Gender ; PUPILLARY DISTANCE ; age differences

PURPOSEThe present study aimed to determine the problems of the Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale when applied to Japanese independent community-dwelling elderly focusing on its factor structure.

METHODSThe subjects were 1791 community-dwelling independent elderly aged 60 and over (848 males and 943 females). This study used the Japanese version of the CES-D scale to assess depression in the elderly.

RESULTSFrom the results of an exploratory factor analysis, the four factors of somatic symptoms, depression affect, positive affect and relation with others were interpreted.These factors were the same as those in the previous study, but the items making up each subscale differed. Therefore, the construct validity of each subscale was not necessarily assured. In the confirmatory factor analysis, goodness-offit was high for both the first and second-order factor models. In examining the validity by Akaike's information criterion (AIC), the second-order factor model assuming depression as a higher-order factor among the four factors was a better fit than the first-order factor model. Although the reliability of each subscale was not sufficient, adequate reliability was assured in the total scale.

CONCLUSIONAn assessment of depression using the Japanese version of the CES-D scale should be conducted using the total score, while a re-examination of items making up each subscale is needed.

OBJECTThe purposes of this study were to investigate the actual status in subjective symptoms of fatigue (SSF) and lifestyles of young male students living in two different life spheres of the Tokyo metropolitan area and a rural area, and to find, regional differences in these characteristics and relations between SSF and lifestyles in school life.

METHODSA questionnaire regarding SSF and lifestyle was administered to 412 healthy male students (16-18 yr) attending the two National Colleges of Technology located in the Tokyo metropolitan area (MA) and a local city (LC). Statistical techniques such as a chi-square test and Hayashi's Quantification Theory I analysis were used to examine relations between SSF and lifestyles.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONA significant difference was found only in "feeling of physical disintegration,", and the MA group was higher than the LC group. The MA students showed shorter sleeping hours and earlier awaken time compared with LC students. In the relations between SSF and lifestyles, sleeping habit was an important factor significantly relating to SSF in both groups. Paying attention to good sleeping habits is an important countermeasure for preventing SSF in the male students.