• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study was to describe the gait pattern and parameters of the healthy elderly over 65years of age by the GATERite system. The subjects were sorted into two groups, depending on their sex: male and female. And female subjects were sorted into three groups, depending on their age. From time parameters and space parameters of gait cycle, between groups, the following results were made. The time parameters such as cadence, velocity, step time, single support and double support were the less the male than the female. And the higher age, the lower value except 80 age group, while no statistically significant. The space parameters(step length and stride length) were the longer the male than the female, and the higher age, the lower value while no statistically signigicant. The functional ambulation profile was high correlation with time and space parameters statistically significant.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.611-617
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify the effective lumbar area exercise program to prevent falls of the elderly by dividing 14 female elders over 65 living in Daegu into two groups such as resistance exercise group and resistance & stabilization exercise group, and applying a 60 minute exercise program three times a week for 12 weeks. The followings are the results. First, both of resistance exercise and resistance & stabilization exercise brought improvement of lumbar strength and there was no significant difference between two groups. Second, there was no significant difference in lower limb strength in resistance exercise group but resistance & stabilization exercise group showed significant increase in lower limb flexor strength. To make a summary of the above results, it can be said that 12 weeks' resistance & stabilization exercise is effective to the lumbar strength and lower limb strength of the elderly. Accordingly, if combining resistance exercise and stabilization exercise appropriately, we can build a successful preventive program which even the elderly who cannot perform resistance exercise easily can follow.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2022

This study analyzed the epidemiological trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) according to age and sex among individuals aged 50 years or older in South Korea from September 2018 to December 2020. We found that the positivity rate for Gardnerella vaginalis was the highest in the study group, followed by the positivity rate for Ureaplasma parvum (UP). Interestingly, the positivity rates for Mycoplasma hominis and UP were higher in female participants than in male participants. The positivity rate for Treponema pallidum was very low in the female participants. During the study period, the positivity rate for herpes simplex virus 2 increased in the female participants, while the positivity rate for Candida increased in the male participants. These results show that the STI positivity rate varies according to age and sex, and a difference was observed in the average age of positive participants according to the type of STIs. We found a clear pattern of infection in the elderly population and according to sex. Our findings are expected to be used as baseline data for future research, education, and prevention of STIs in the elderly population.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2012

1. Objectives Sasang constitutional medicine is unique in Korean traditional medicine. It diagnoses and treats patients based on his/her Sasang constitution (SC). Skin properties have been used as an effective diagnostic component in the classification of SC types in clinics. In this paper, we investigated the SC-based health relevance of skin elasticity and wrinkle properties. 2. Methods The skin elasticity and wrinkle of forearm and dorsal hand were measured in 299 elderly female subjects. To determine the subject's Sasang constitution, we adopted the classification results from a newly developed SC diagnostic tool. The health states of the subjects were scored by two Korean traditional medical doctors, by whom each subject was categorized either into the healthy state or the unhealthy state. 3. Results As a result, the elasticity hysteresis of forearm (E_HYS), the visco-elasticity (VE_MEAN), and the wrinkle frequency energy of backhand (W_HAND) showed significant differences between Taeum-in group and Soeum-in group. In case of the Soeum-in on unhealthy state, VE_MEAN was decreased significantly (p<.05). W_HAND and W_ARM_H of the healthy Taeum-in were less than those of the unhealthy Taem-in. 4. Conclusions In this study we showed that, for an elderly female population, skin elasticity and viscosity were significantly different not only between each SC type but also between healthy group and unhealthy group in each constitution. In particular, Soeum-in subjects were inferred to be superior in retaining skin softness when they were healthy, and Taeum-in subjects were easy to lose their firmness of skin surface when they became unhealthy.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.47-60
• /
• 1996

Home health care is one of the important components of health care services. Today, the need and demand for the home health care is increasing. To assess the effects of home visit health services by public health nurses in health center on the stat of health, use of medical services and quality of life by elderly people living at home, a randomized controlled trial was implemented for 65 years or more old people randomly allocated to intervention(93) and control(118) group. Intervention group received 2 visits a month over 6 months. Control group received no home visits. The data was collected in a one-year follow-up survey conducted at Kyongju before and after the intervention which composed of health risk assessment, risk factor education and health related behavior counseling. The prevalence rate of chronic illness was more decreased in intervention group than control group after intervention. The intervention group visited medical facilities less frequently than control group. And the home visit health services encouraged the elderly to practice regular exercise. After the intervention, the score of ADL(activities of daily living), LSI(life satisfaction index) and SSI(social support index) in intervention group were more increased than control group. And the increase of scores was more prominent in 70 years or more old people, female, non-smoker and non-chronic illed elderly rather than others. In conclusion, the regular home visit health services provided by public health nurses were beneficial for the elderly in terms of health promotion and quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.197-210
• /
• 1997

Low energy intakes, poor nutritional quality, and low food diversity are among the factors affecting the nutritional status of elderly in Korea. Therefore, a nutrition counseling and education program was conducted to promote dietary change and to improve nutritional status of elderly. The 7 step program consisted of a individual nutrition counseling and weekly or biweekly group nutrition education programs. Pre- and post-test measurings of dietary behaviors, attitudes, nutrition knowledge, and 24-hour dietary recall data were collected. Positive changes in the attitude related to diet were noted, whereas nutritional knowledge scores were not improved. Significant increases were noted in the frequency of vegetable consumption in female and diversity of food consumption in male. The densities of vitamin C(male & female), $B_1$, $B_2$, and niacin, calculated using the INQ(Index of Nutritional Quality), were significantly improved by nutrition counseling and education programs. These results suggest the appropriateness of nutrition intervention programs for the improvement of elderly nutrition.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.454-463
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to assess the biochemical nutritional status of the long-lived elderly. The subjects of the study were 148 elderly people of age over 85 years living in Kyungpook Sung-Ju area who have no problem in daily living. The anthropometric measurement and biochemical assessment of the blood sample were carried out. The subject group for this study was composed of 25.9% males and 74.1% females, the average age being 87 years old. The mean Body Mass Index(BMI) of the male and female subjects were 20.7 and 21.2 respectively. The average body fat amounts of the male and female were 21.4% and 29.8% respectively, and the average waist/hip ratios were 0.9 and 0.7 respectively. The mean levels of the total blood protein and albumin of the subjects were in the normal ranges. The mean levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride were 167.9mg /dL and 123.9mg/dL respectively. The mean levels of the subjects below normal range of hemoglobin were 63.5%. Serum levels of antioxidant nutrients were very poor. The mean levels of serum lipid peroxidation products were 3.3nmol/mL. BMI and WHR were positively correlated with the serum cholesterol levels. The resuts showed that the long-lived elderly had good nutritional status except for antioxidant nutrients status. In addition antioxidant supplement for long-lived elderly may be effective to maintain healthy life in later years.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2010

Objectives : Recently, the number of elderly people has been rapidly increasing in Korea, and it led to increase demands of Korean traditional medical services. However, there is a lack of information on Korean traditional service utilization. Thus, this study was intended to identify Korean traditional service utilization patterns such as acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping, since Korean traditional services were specially used in treating chronic diseases for elderly people. It is important to understand health services utilization for quality improvement of healthcare systems. Methods:We used data of 'Survey in Daegu' in 2008 and analyzed characteristics of disease structure and utilization patterns of health care service of 1,097 cases of participated citizens. Results : The proportion of the elderly people (>50 age) in total participators is 52.4%. Male to female ratio is 1:1.65 and most common age group was between 50 and 59 years old. 84.2% of participators were admitted at oriental health care facilities. In addition, the results showed that female were more used the service than man. The most common treated disease is musculoskeletal disorders in both male and female. Conclusions : Acupuncture, moxa and cupping are widely used to treat chronic degenerative diseases such as musculoskeletal disorders at oriental health care facilities. Elders and female prefer to be admitted at oriental health care facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2018

PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship between the daily physical activity level and fall-proof-related fitness in older female adults. METHODS: This study promoted and sampled the subjects who participated in the study for 2 weeks, and developed a basic information questionnaire to select the subjects to be excluded from the research. The amount of energy expenditure through daily physical activity was examined, and the elderly physical fitness, and balance test were analyzed. The subjects were divided into group A (${\geq}1,500kcal/week$), group B (<$1,500-{\geq}1,000kcal/week$), and group C (<1,000 kcal/week) according to their daily physical activity level. RESULTS: A significant difference in the daily physical activity level (energy expenditure), Chair Stand Test (lower body strength), 8-Foot Up-and Go Test (dynamic balance), and CTSIB-M (modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance) was observed among groups A, B, and C (p<.5), but there was no significant difference in the Chair Sit-and-Reach Test (lower body flexibility) (p>.5). CONCLUSION: The increase in physical activity is an essential factor for preventing falls and it provides many health benefits for the elderly. On the other hand, considering that elderly people cannot access exercise programs easily in Korea, it can be predicted that increasing elderly people's physical activity in daily life rather than specific exercises may help prevent falls.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.504-517
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in risk factors and sleep, depression, and mobility of Korean elderly with and without low back pain and sciatica. Methods: Data were derived from the 2011 Korean National Survey on Older Adults. Participants included 10,674 community-dwelling elderly. The group of elderly subjects with low back pain and sciatica and the group of elderly subjects without low back pain and sciatica were compared according to gender. Result: Age, monthly income, exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, and providing caring support were significant risk factors for low back pain and sciatica in elderly male subjects. On the other hand, monthly income, living arrangement, arthritis, osteoporosis, providing caring support, and television watching time were significant risk factors in elderly female subjects. Significant differences in depression and mobility according to low back pain and sciatica were observed in both genders. Conclusion: Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica in elderly differed according to gender. Low back pain and sciatica showed an association with depression and mobility. These findings should be considered in planning for nursing intervention for low back pain and sciatica.