2019 Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 104-112
Objective: After the Great East Japan Earthquake, elder people living in temporary housing were reported to have declined physical function due to lowered physical activity. Although the communities made some efforts to increase their physical activity, it is uncertain whether social participation is beneficial or not. A preliminary study was performed to examine the impact of exercise tasks for social participation on the improvement of elderly people’s physical inactivity.
Methods: The subjects were 18 persons age≥65 years with low physical activity (<10 METs・h/w) who lived in temporary housing. The intervention was conducted from July 2015 to January 2016, when monthly exercise lecture were undertaken, and the outcome was evaluated every three months. Exercise tasks for social participation were worship to temples or work at garden.
Results: The average weekly activity, where the largest activity was carried out in one month, physical activity increased three months after the baseline: mean±standard derivation= 7.6±1.9 METs･h/w to 20.2±11.2 METs･h/w, p<0.01 for total physical activity, 7.9±1.1 METs･h/w to 13.2±3.3 METs･h/w, p<0.05 for worship to temples, 7.3±2.5 METs･h/w to 27.3±11.7 METs･h/w, p<0.05 for work in garden. NO significant change was obtained six months after the baseline: mean±standard derivation= 7.6±1.9 METs･h/w to 14.1±12.1 METs･h/w, p=0.24 for total physical activity, 7.9±1.1 METs･h/w to 9.6±5.4 METs･h/w, p=0.54 for worship to temples, 7.3±2.5 METs･h/w to 21.6±15.9 METs･h/w, p=0.37 for work at garden.
Conclusion: The recommendation of participation in social activity could be short-term effects for increased physical activity among elderly people.
