The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of supplemental PNF and weight training on the daily activity-related physical function(DAPF) and isokinetic muscular function in the older women. Forty-two volunteers(age=67.77±3.37), who had been participating in aerobic exercises for the preceding 12 weeks, were placed in 2 groups: experimental group(n=24) continued PNF and weight training, and control group(n=18) continued only aerobic exercise. The subjects who joined this investigation were asked to participate in the program(3 times/week, 60min/day) for 12 weeks. DAPF was measured on muscular strength, flexibility, agility/dynamic balance, aerobic endurance, and BMI. Muscular strength was also evaluated by peak torque of the knee extensor and flexors at 60 deg/sec(3 repetitions) and endurance by total work of the knee extensor and flexors at 180 deg/sec(26 repetitions) using isokinetic exercise machine(Biodex system 3 pro., U.S.A.) at the beginning and the end of the 12-weeks program. For data analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and repeated two-way ANOVAs were used.
After 12-weeks PNF and weight training, the results of the study are as follow; First, muscular strength of lower and upper body, flexibility of lower body, agility/dynamic balance in DAPF were significantly improved. Second, the isokinetic strength and endurance of knee joint muscles were also significantly improved. Third, however, there was no significant improvement in aerobic endurance and BMI.
Therefore, this study implies that the PNF/weight training may be of benefit to DAPF and isokinetic strength/endurance of knee joint muscles in the postmenopausal and elderly women.