A study on the physical fitness of elderly weekly hill walkers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to research the physical fitness of elderly weekly hill walkers by comparison with general average values for Japanese. The participants total 77 members (28 males and 49 females) of a mountaineering party who did a hill walking once a week for at least 1 year. The test of physical fitness consisted of muscle strength (knee extension strength, back strength, grip strength and sit ups), agility (reaction time), body flexion (long sitting forward reach), balance (one-leg balancing with eyes open) and ability of daily physical actions (10-times-reapeated sit-to-stand test and 5m maximal walking test). The general average values were taken from several previous studies considered to be highly appropriate as the general average. For statistical analysis, unpaired t-test using the number of subjects, means and standard deviations of previous studies was performed. As a result, the 4 muscle strength tests were significantly higher than the general average value (P<0.001). In addition, the agility test and 2 abilities of daily physical action’s tests were significantly faster than the general average value (P<0.001). Moreover, there was no relationship between the value of knee extension and ages, but it existed in between annual climbing number of days (male: r=0.40, P<0.05, female: r=0.35, P<0.05). In conclusion, it appears that elderly people who climb the low mountain weekly have the higher physical fitness than general average values, and it can be inferred that weekly hill walking in low mountains can potentially keep higher knee extension regardless of age.