• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.55-65
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• 2008

This study examined the personal and relational factors influencing the formation of body image among older persons. Aging-rel￡lted physical changes, health, marital relationship, cognitive age, and moods were personal and relationship factors explained for influence on the body image of older persons. Data were collected via a mail survey of older married couples residing in three US. metropolitan areas of Florida. A total of 94 married couples who were 60 years older participated in this study. Results indicated that aging-related physical changes, effect of physical changes on the self, self-assessed health, and evaluation of spouse's attractiveness, and perceived attractiveness (one's perception of the other spouse's appraisals of his or her attractiveness) were found to be significantly related to the body image of older men and women. For men, self-assessed health, evaluation of spouse's attractiveness, and perceived attractiveness were significantly related to body image while physical changes, effect of physical changes, and perceived attractiveness were found significant for women. The feelings of older persons about and satisfaction with their bodies and appearance were estimated by aging-related and relationship-related variables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.20-23
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• 2014

Age-related changes in larynx can have a direct impact on voice quality and general comfort level. Observations of vocal aging have spanned perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, physical, electromyographic (EMG) and histological levels. Evidence of differential vocal aging in relation to gender and physical condition has been reported. Perceptual, acoustic, aerodynamic, kinematic, EMG and histological data document age-related changes in laryngeal structure and function with advancing age. These changes contribute to a functional age-related impact of vocal hypofunction or compensatory hyperfunction. This review will focus on the current understanding of the clinical and cellular changes in the larynx that lead to presbyphonia.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2013

The elderly population continues to increase in Korea and there has been a growing interest in understanding normal aging. In response to this public interest, the present paper reviewed human aging research focusing on recently published neuroimaging studies. For the first half of the paper, I reviewed the effects of aging on the brain and cognition. In normal aging, structural changes in the brain include atrophy and volume reduction in the prefrontal and temporal cortices. Functional changes are exhibited in the form of overactivation of the brain. Moreover, age-related cognitive decline is particularly observed in inhibition and memory, which are also associated with the age-related structural changes in the brain. For the second half of the paper, I introduced physical exercise studies showing that exercise played a protective role in the age-related neurocognitive decline. More specifically, engaging in physical exercise (particularly, aerobic exercise) for a relatively long period of time (e. g., > 6 mon.) protected older adults from volume loss in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, and induced better inhibition and memory. These exercise-induced benefits appear to be associated with changes in neuronal levels, indicating that the aging brain is still plastic and this plasticity can be enhanced by physical exercise.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.69-81
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• 2010

Physical manifestations of aging due to the lack of exercise include the slowing down of motor learning, cardiopulmonary degradation, and the increasing difficulty to adapt to the environment. Aging is manifested with the lack of aerobic exercise work, decrease in muscular endurance, decline in skeletal and muscular strength, flexibility and agility, and the decrease in reaction speed and balance. Added to those are aging-related physiological changes, including the reduction of muscle bulk, increased body fat, decrease in total body water and basic metabolic rate as activities are reduced, and a decrease in cell and Lean Body Mass (LBM). These changes are known to cause problems. Interest and participation in appropriate physical activities among the elderly is needed to help them increase stamina, avoid diseases, maintain a clear intellect, and basically enable the elderly to live their daily lives as easy as possible. Therefore, physical activities are necessary for the elderly to enhance health-related factors. Special exercises should be performed for the enhancement of muscle function, muscle endurance, flexibility, agility, and balance. An accurate measurement of cardio-respiratory endurance and stamina through basic physical and cognitive characteristics of older adults is also required to ensure safety. Also, the development of a more scientific resistance exercise prescription system for the elderly is desperately needed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 1998

The decrease of muscle power and muscle size between twenties and seventies was about 30% and 40% respectively. The loss of muscle mass by aging resulted in the decrease of muscle power. The loss of muscle mass was due to the decrease of number of Type I fiber and Type II fiber and size of each muscle fiber. The aging skeletal muscle didn't show the loss of glycolysis capacity but showed 20% decrease of the oxidative enzymes and muscle vascularization. The vigorous endurance exercise training with graded intensity played a role in the vascular proliferation, increase of activity of oxidative enzymes and improvement of $VO_2$ max. The graded resistance exercise also played a role in the muscle hypertrophy and increase of muscle power, if it performed with adequate intensity and period. The exercise adaptation of aging skeletal muscle prevented it from sarcopenia, provided the activity of daily living with great effect and provided the aging related disease, that is Type II diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, osteoporosis and obesity, with great effect.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.176-181
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• 2016

Recent studies have focused on evidence-based interventions to prevent mobility decline and enhance physical performance in older adults. Several modalities, in addition to traditional strengthening programs, have been designed to manage age-related functional decline more effectively. In this study, we reviewed the current relevant literatures to assess the therapeutic potential of eccentric exercises for age-related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia). Age-related changes in human skeletal muscle, and their relationship with physical performance, are discussed with reference to in vitro physiologic and human biomechanics studies. An overview of issues relevant to sarcopenia is provided in the context of the recent consensus on the diagnosis and management of the condition. A decline in mobility among the aging population is closely linked with changes in the muscle force-velocity relationship. Interventions based specifically on increasing velocity and eccentric strength can improve function more effectively compared with traditional strengthening programs. Eccentric strengthening programs are introduced as a specific method for improving both muscle force and velocity. To be more effective, exercise interventions for older adults should focus on enhancing the muscle force-velocity relationship. Exercises that can be performed easily, and that utilize eccentric strength (which is relatively spared during the aging process), are needed to improve both muscle force and velocity.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.451-458
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• 2011

Objective: This study is to develop a design and evaluation guide to the ergonomic design of the farm working convenient equipments in order for the elderly to use them easily and safely. Background: The aging population has already increased in farm villages. But due to the usage of the farm working equipments that did not reflect the characteristics and functional changes of aging, accidents and patients with disease are increasing. Method: The study investigated the functional changes and physical, cognitive, and sensuous characteristics of the aged. By determining the criteria for classification of the convenient equipments by crop, and by finding out the items necessary for the ergonomic design, a guide to this study is proposed. Results: It is obvious that the physical, cognitive and sensuous functions change as the aging process continues. Therefore, for the design and evaluation of Control Panel, Control Lever, Frame Size, Shape, and Equipment Weight that are the necessary items for the ergonomic approach for the farm working equipments, such characteristics have to be reflected. Conclusion: Through this study, a guide to the design and evaluation of convenient equipments for the farm works that reflected the aging characteristics and functional changes has been proposed. Application: The result of this study is to expect not only designers but also related specialists to make the best use of it.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

We examined the prevalence of sarcopenia and age-related changes in body composition in Korean older persons. Community dwelling 77 men and 65 women($60{\sim}88\;yr$) were recruited for this study. Fat-free mass and the percent body fat were determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Isometric grip strength was measurement using grip strength dynamometer. Serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride were assayed. The prevalence of sarcopenia was found to increase with aging (men in their sixties 82.6%, seventies 96.6% and eighties 100%, and women in their sixties 47.4%, seventies 63%). In both gender groups, handgrip strength was inversely correlated with age and positively correlated with height, lean mass, and fat free mass. Better handgrip strength was related with higher weight in the men and with lower heart rate in the women. Fat free mass, age, and gender were found to be independent factors significantly associated with handgrip strength in the multivariate analysis. In summary, results of the present study suggest that handgrip strength is well associated with age, gender, and fat free mass and the prevalence of sarcopenia is increased with age and is exceeded by 40% among Korean persons older than 60 years.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.6 s.86
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• pp.867-872
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• 2007

The aging is related to numerous changes in our body system which declines functional ability. The functional ability in advanced age can be evaluated by the 4 components of fitness (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition). The understanding and knowledge of changing 4 components of fitness and the role of exercise on the process of aging is of paramount importance. Despite exercise and physical activity have been shown to delay the process of aging, the exercise guidelines and recommendations for old adults are not well published. This review is to presents the age-related changes in each component of fitness and to present current guidelines and recommendations for exercise in older adults.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2022

Objective: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of monitoring systems to monitor and manage physical function of community-dwelling elderly living alone and suggest future directions of unobtrusive monitoring. Design: Literature review Methods: The importance of health-related monitoring has been emphasized due to the aging population and novel corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak.As the population gets old and because of changes in culture, the number of single-person households among the elderly is expected to continue to increase. Elders are staying home longer and their physical function may decline rapidly,which can be a disturbing factorto successful aging.Therefore, systematic elderly management must be considered. Results: Frequently used technologies to monitor elders at home included red, green, blue (RGB) camera, accelerometer, passive infrared (PIR) sensor, wearable devices, and depth camera. Of them all, considering privacy concerns and easy-to-use features for elders, depth camera possibly can be a technology to be adapted at homes to unobtrusively monitor physical function of elderly living alone.The depth camera has been used to evaluate physical functions during rehabilitation and proven its efficiency. Conclusions: Therefore, physical monitoring system that is unobtrusive should be studied and developed in the future to monitor physical function of community-dwelling elderly living alone for the aging population.