Abstract:
Exercise training with flexible stick (EF) is the exercise innovation that combine aerobic and resistance exercise training. EF training was constructed by Dr. Suksom D. and colleague. It used the equipment, flexible stick that made by two of bamboo sticks and two of the rubber circle strings. The purposes of this study were to develop the flexible stick exercise model for the elderly and to study the effects of EF on health-related physical fitness and cutaneous blood flow in the elderly women. About the development of EF for the elderly, we designed the continuous motion of major muscle applied from Thai culture, Thai dance and Ram Krabi-Krabong compatible with Thai instrumental music. The model of exercise was designed for the elderly to exercise all parts of the body. These EF has 83 postures including 13 warm up postures and 13 cool down postures. The content validity of EF is good for the experts opinion. EF model had the good reliability by no significant difference between 1st and 2nd times of the heart rate monitoring through the bout of exercise. The oxygen consumption of this exercise was 14.5 ml/kg/min represent the moderate intensily exercise. EF was used to be exercise training for the seventeen subjects who were female aging (aged 70.29+-2.51 years) in Dindaeng services center for the elderly. The subjects were participated in an intervention program of EF with 40 min/day, 4 day/wk for 12 weeks. Before and after training, physiological characteristic parameters, health related physical fitness and cutaneous blood flow (CBF) were measured. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid profile levels were also determined. After 12 weeks EF training, the subjects had lower in resting heart rate, blood pressure and the percentage of body fat (p<0.05). There were significantly greater in muscular strength, flexibility, maximal oxygen consumption and peak CBF/resting CBF after EF training (p<0.05). Plasma malondialdehyde, an indicator of free radical damaging and cholesterol levels after EF training were significantly lower (p<0.05, 0.01) than those of pre-training. Our results indicated that 12 weeks EF had health benefits for the elderly. EF was effectively in promoting health related physical fitness and improving endothelial function by ameliorating cholesterol and reactive oxygen species in the elderly.