The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence over vital function and daily-life activities for elderly people who have practiced Kendo for their life.
The subjects are 10 elder whose average age are 70.3 ± 1.5 years old and the average experience of Kendo are 48.3 ± 7.5 years. In addition, their acquired rank of Dan are 7.1 ± 0.73Dan. The control subjects are six elders whose average age are 66.0 ± 2.9 years old.
The item of measurements are visual functions (Kinetic visual acuity and Flicker test), auditory capacity, the sense of balance (stand on one foot and eyes are closed), and choice reaction time of whole body.
Heart, rate, oxygen uptakes, pulmonary ventilation, respiratory rate, and blood pressure are measured at rest time, during six minutes bicycle steady exercise (1.5kp,60rpm), four minutes of recovery period.
(1) The results showed that the Kinetic visual acuity on the Kendo group were significantly greater than controlled group (P<0.05). However, there is no recognition of significant differences on Flicker test between both groups.
(2) The loss of auditory ability on right ear on Kendo group (37.1 ± 8.27db) are remarkable than controlled group (31.7 ± 7.52 db) (P<0.01).
(3) At the time of balance on one foot with their eyes closed, Kendo group showed significantly greater than controlled group (P<0.01).
(4) On the choice reaction time of whole body, they did not show any significant differences between both groups. However, Kendo group moved to more accurate than controlled group to instructed mat according to designate the color, we found statistically significant differences (P<0.01).
(5) The mean values of oxygen uptakes, pulmonary ventilation and respiratory rate during exercise and at recovery were significantly higher on controlled than Kendo group (P<0.01).
(6) There is no differences on systolic pressure between two groups. On the mean values of diastolic pressure during exercise, the controlled showed significantly greater than Kendo group (P<0.05).
