This paper discusses the influence of the degree of activity on ventilatory function. The subjects were 163 people from 65 to 99 years of age (mean 77.7±8.2yrs) with no respiratory disease. The degree of activity was designated in accordance with The Judgement Standard of ADL Dependency (the Ministry of Health and Welfare), and was divided into 6 levels : N (normal), J1 (goes out by bus or train), J2 (goes out in the neighborhood), A1 (needs help for outdoor activities), A2 (needs help for indoor activities), B (spends a long time in bed) . %VC, FEV
1.0%, PEFR, V
25/Ht, MEP, MIP, chest girth, ROM of thoracic spine were measured. ADL and the time frame of daily life was also analyzed for 85 of the subjects. %VC, PEFR, MEP, MIP, chest girth and ROM of spine significantly decreased with a lowering of activity level. Chest girth significantly decreased in J1, and %VC also decreased in J2. The rate of restrictive ventilatory disorder (%VC<80%) increased according to the activity level : 0 % in N and J1, 42% in J2, 61% in A1, and over 90% in A2 and B. Because of the characteristics of the subjects, it was thought that these changes were due to the disuse syndrome. There was no significant change in FEV
1.0% and V
25/Ht with the change of the degree of activity. Moreover, no certain tendency was found in obstructive ventilatory change. Factors which contributed a great deal to an increase of %VC were the degree of activity, lower chest girth, MIP, the duration of hobby or housekeeping and the duration of upright position. Conversely, factors which contributed less to the amount of %VC were age, FEV
1.0%, MEP and time of getting up or going to bed. These factors mean that restrictive changes of the ventilatory system occur at a very early stage of activity decline despite independent ADL or absence of respiratory disorder. Physical therapy and activation of daily life are needed.
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