Effects of Vocal Exercises upon Human Functions

Abstract

With a hypothesis that vocalization or the vocal exercise can be useful as the physical exercises particularly for the senior citizens, we examined it's effects upon such human functions, especially as gas metabolism, photoelectric plethysmograph lead from forehead, ears and finger, and cardiac functions. Healthy male adults we e employed as the subjects and following five kinds of vocal exercises were given to each subject: Ex.l A Japanese popular song, "SHIAWASE NARA TEO TATAKO-Let's show happiness by clapping cur hands". Ex.2 A Japanese folk song, "KURODABUSHI-Real Samurai of Kuroda". Ex.3 A Japanese lied, "KONO MICHI-This path in memory". Ex.4 A cheer song, "TORITSU DAI (Tokyo metropolitan university) OENKA". Ex.5 A cheering calls, "HURRAY HURRAY TORITSU". The results were as follows ; 1) The average R.M.R. of each exercise; Ex.1 ...... 0.8 Ex.2...... 1.3 Ex.3...... 1.4 Ex.4...... 1.5 Ex.5...... 2.2 2) Ex.2, 4 and 5 showed considarable changes in the wave of plethysmograph during and after the exercise, especially at the finger. The height of wave was decreased during the exercise, and was rapidly increased during resting period. It's effects remained until about 2 to 5 minutes after the exercise. 3) Ex.2, 4 and 5 showed a remarkable decrease of the amplitude of T-wave during the exercises. The amount of change was not always related to the metabolic values such as O_2 consumption and R.M.R. The effects of intended vocal exercises upon the human energy metabolism and the cardiac function were found to be appropriate for the middle-aged persons in order to supplement their inactivity regularly as one of the prescribed physical exercises.