The Effects of 12 Weeks of a Combined Exercise Program on Physical Function and Hormonal Status in Elderly Korean Women

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 16; no. 21; p. 4196
• Main Authors: Im, Ji Yu, Bang, Hyun Seok, Seo, Dae Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30.10.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging - physiology; Biomarkers - blood; Body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Body fat; Chemical compounds; Dance; Dancing - physiology; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood; Estrogens - blood; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Geriatrics; Health care; Health Status; Hormones - blood; Human Growth Hormone - blood; Humans; Immunoassay; Intervention; Metabolism; Muscle Strength - physiology; Older people; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pharmaceuticals; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Population; Postural Balance - physiology; Public health; Quality of life; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Republic of Korea; Women's Health; Womens health; Yoga; Republic of Korea; United States > US; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; estrogen; growth hormone; combined exercise; elderly women
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16214196

Aging causes a decline in physical function and hormonal balance. Exercise can improve these parameters. However, the beneficial effects of a combined exercise program (Korean dance and yoga) on physical function and hormonal status in elderly women remain unknown. This study aims to investigate the effects of a 12-week combined exercise program on balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and hormonal status in elderly Korean women. Twenty-five healthy elderly women were recruited and randomly divided into the control (CON) and exercise (EXE) groups. The EXE group underwent the combined exercise program (60 min/day and 3 times/week) for 12 weeks. The two groups did not differ in body weight, lean body mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, or body mass index at baseline or in the changes following the experimental conditions. A significant time × group interaction was detected for anterior and posterior dynamic balance, static balance, and growth hormone (GH). After the combined exercise program, anterior dynamic balance, posterior dynamic balance, static balance, flexibility, muscle strength, GH, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, and estrogen significantly increased in the EXE group compared to the CON group. In conclusion, the combined exercise program contributed to improvements in overall health, including physical function and hormonal status, in elderly Korean women.