Regular long term dance movement could be one of ways to induce improvement of psychophysiological variables, resulting in improvement of quality of life. However, there have been few studies to evaluate the effect of dance movement training on both physiological and psychological variables in the elderly. This study was focused to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on psychophysiological variables-body weight, body fat, lean body mass, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, agility, resting heart rate and blood pressure, depression and life satisfaction-in Korean elderly women. Thirty four subjects, aged between 65 and 75years who have normal cognition, sensory function, cerebellum function, cardiovascular function, participated in this study. Seventeen experimental group subjects were selected from E-elderly university in Kyung Gi province, and Seventeen control group subjects were selected from N -welfare facility in Seoul City. Seventeen experimental group subjects participated for 12weeks dance movement program. Korean traditional dance movement program was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the author. The program consisted of approximately 50minutes of dance, 3times a week for 12weeks. During 50minutes workout, there were 15minutes of warm-up dancing, 25minutes of conditioning dance and 10minutes of cool-down dancing. The intensity for the conditioning phase was at between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The body weight, body fat, lean body mass, muscle strength(grip strength, leg strength), muscle endurance, flexibility, agility, resting heart rate and blood pressure, depression and life satisfaction were measured prior to and following the experimental treatment. The participants in dance movement were interviewed focusing on subjective feeling following 12 week's regular dance movement. Data were analyzed with mean, standard deviation, percentage of change, X2-test, t-test, and ANCOVA test using SPSS PC+ program. Subjec tive feeling was categorized into cognitopsy-chological and physiological responses. Results were obtained as follows: 1) The body weight(F=15.52, p=.000), body fat (F=18.33, p=.000) and lean body mass(F=7.28, p=.011) of the experimental group were significantly lower than those Of the control group following the dance movement training. 2) The leg strength (F=30.96, p=.000), muscle endurance (F=9.06, p=.005), agility(F=44.92, 000), flexibility(F=6.84, p=.014) of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the dance movement training. There was no significant difference of grip strength (F=. 43, p=.515) between experimental and control groups. 3) The heart rate(F=26.96, p=.000), systolic (F=10.40, p=.000) and diastolic(F=3.99, p= .005) blood pressure at rest of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group following the dance movement training. 4) No significant difference of score of depression (F=3.49, p=.071) was observed between experimental and control groups. 5) Score of life satisfaction of experimental group was remarkably higher than that of control group following 12weeks of dance movement training (p<0.05). 6) Thematic responses about the dance movement following the training were positive. "I feel good" was the most frequent among cognitopsychol-ogical responses and "I feel lightness of body" was the most frequent among physiological responses. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve psychophysiological variables of Korean elderly.

PURPOSE: To identify age, gender, medication, seasons and place of fall, and areas of the fractures from the fall among the hospitalized elderly patients in order to provide the basic data for future fall prevention program for the elderly.
METHODS
This study was conducted for 106 elderly patients admitted into a university hospital by fractures from the fall during the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999. Data on the age, gender, medication, season and place of the fall, areas of the fracture were collected based on their medical records.
RESULT
The age range of the subjects were from 60 to 96 years old. The subjects were aged between 60-69 years old 49(46.2%), between 70-79 years old 31(29.2%), between 80-89 years old 24(22.6%), and over 90 years old 2(1.9%). Male patients comprised was 34(28.3%), while female patients comprised 76(71.7%). The fall occurred in Winter most frequently 34(32%). The place of the fall included room 81(76.4%), streets 13(12.3%), bathroom 6(5.7%), stair 4(3.8%), and mountain 2(1.9%). Twenty-two subjects (20.8%) had medication regularly, while 84 subjects (79.2%) had no medication. The areas of the fracture from the fall included upper extremities 20(18.9%) and lower extremities 86(81.1%). Radius fracture (7.5%) was the area where the fracture occurred most frequently in upper extremities and femur fracture (52.8%) was the area where the fracture occurred most frequently in lower extremities. A significant difference was found in the fracture area by age, season and place of the fall (p<.05). No significant difference was found in the fracture area by gender and medication. In all age groups, seasons and places of the fall, occurrence of fracture in lower extremity was significantly higher than that in upper extremity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of walk training on leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait in home bound elderly women. Eighteen elderly women of the experimental group aged between 70 and 90 years image who have normal vision, hearing and Romberg test. They participated in the 12 week walk training. The subjects of the experimental group practiced walk training 3 times a week for during 12 weeks. During the 40 minute workout, the subjects practiced 5 minutes of warming-up exercises, 30 minutes of conditioning exercises and 10 minutes of a cool-down exercise. The intensity for the conditioning phase was determined by subject' heart rates, which ranged from 60% to 70% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The body composition, leg strength, flexibility, postural stability, balance and gait were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. The body fat, lean body mass, leg strength (ankle dorsiflexor, plantarflexor, inversor and eversir, knee flexor, extensior), flexibility (range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, inversion and eversion), and postural stability of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group. Duration of standing on the right foot and that of standing on the left foot of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Among 13 items for balance, the scores of experimental group in balance with eyes closes, turning balance, sternal nudge, neck turning, one leg standing balance and back extension were higher than those of the control group. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the walking training. Scores of experimental group in step height, step length and walk stance while walking among 9 items for gait were significantly higher than those of the control group. The results suggest that walk training can improve physical fitness for prevention in home bound elderly women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke is a leading cause of death in Korea. Early measurement to prevent stroke are extremely important since it has no cure. Korean might have different risk factors since their dietary habit and socio-economical status differ from most western countries. However, the risk factors for stroke in Korea have not yet been identified. Moreover, the lifestyle of health Korean adults has not been investigated. In this study we investigate the life of health adults living in Seoul and rural areas and compare the life style of the two. METHODS: One hundred seventy one subjects were studies. Among the subjects studied, 128 were from Seoul, the other 43 were from the country area. The age of the subjects was limited to over 40 years. Blood pressure, fast blood sugar, and cholesterol were measured. The subjects' height, weight, body mass index total body fat, skinfolds thickness of triceps, subscapular and abdomen were measured to determine obesity. Using a structured interview, we assessed : sodium intake, physical activity and exercise, consumption of vegetables, fat, fish and fruits. The results of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in age and education between the two groups of subjects. The mean age of the subjects were 66 years old. The subjects residing in rural areas had a higher intake of sodium(p<0.05), lower physical active(P<0.05), and higher BMI and body fat(p<0.05) as compared to the subjects in Seoul. Subjects with hypertension were between 24% and 33% and the prevalence of hypertension was the highest was the highest when compared to the prevalence of DM, or hypercholesterolemia. However, the prevalence of hypertension, DM, hypercholesterolemia, were not significantly different in these areas. CONCLUSION: our results show that subjects living in rural areas eat more salty food, exercise less and tend to be obese. The finding of this study lead to speculation that Korean living in rural areas have less information about the effects diet of diet on health than city dwellers do. General health and nutrition education programs aimed at the prevention of stoke and other such conditions for rural area Korean may close the risk factor gap between rural and urban dwellers.