Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of an 8-week training program of “standing up from a chair” on motor functions among 10 elderly women (mean age 81.3 ± 4.8 yrs) who are residents of a health institution for the aged. After the training, the following factors significantly improved: the maximum endurance time of the standing up activity (314 ± 190→710 ± 326 msec), the best mean torque value of the quadriceps muscle (0.46 ± 0.27→0.78 ± 0.37 Nm/kg), IEMG (100→146 ± 32%) of the quadriceps muscle (vastus lateralis), motor time of the knee extension (159 ± 30→121 ± 29 msec) and a six minute walk distance (159 ± 48→238 ± 59 m). It was shown that Δ best mean torque value significantly correlated with ΔIEMG, Δ maximum endurance time and Δ motor time. It was also indicated that the six minute walk distance significantly correlated with both the maximum endurance time and the best mean torque. These results suggest that the training program is effective for an improvement in neuromuscular activation of quadriceps muscle, thereby subsequently increasing muscle strength and endurance, and that the increase in muscle strength then improves muscular response, resulting in an increase in walking ability.
