Abstract
The aim of this study was to effectively promote health among the middle aged and the elderly. The subjects were participants of a health education program: (1) those who took classes in Nagano city (Classroom activity group) and (2) those who took classes plus once a week workout in Minowa town (Classroom activity plus training group). The number of the subjects in the Classroom activity group were 76 healthy people (17 males and 59 females) whose average age was 59.4 years, and that of Classroom activity plus training group were 99 healthy people (13 males and 86 females) whose average age was 64.5 years. The investigation was carried out before and after the health education program in both groups for comparison using the GO/NO-GO task, the physical fitness test and the blood test. Following the health education program, the GO/NO-GO task, the physical fitness test and the blood test improved significantly both in Classroom activity group and the Classroom activity plus training group. Furthermore, differences were found between the two groups. Specifically, the number of steps decreased significantly among the Classroom activity group participants (mean±SE: 6382.2±300.5) compared with that of the Classroom activity plus training group (mean±SE: 9757.1±135.6). And the Classroom activity plus training group improved significantly in the grip strength, sit-up, sit and reach flexibility, the ten meter obstacle walk, eyes-open single-leg stance of the physical fitness test, as compared with the Classroom activity group.
