PURPOSE
The study aimed to investigate the effects of leg strength exercise for elderly women on their muscle strength, flexibility, and frequency of urinary incontinence.
METHODS
The participants were 117 elderly women. The data were collected between June and November 2017. The leg strength exercise was performed for 60 minutes, twice a week, for 24 weeks. Exercise classes were for 60 minutes including 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, 40 minutes of strength exercise, and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises. The muscle strength, flexibility, and frequency of urinary incontinence were measured before and after the leg strength exercise. The results were analyzed with χ2 test and, repeated measures ANOVA using the SPSS/WIN 22.0 program.
RESULTS
After the leg strength exercise, the leg strength significantly increased after 3 and 6 months each, and the flexibility of the leg significantly increased after 3 months. Additionally, frequency of urination before sleep significantly decreased after 6 months, and frequency of urination during bedtime also decreased. Moreover, frequency of urinary urgency and urge urinary incontinence significantly decreased.
CONCLUSION
The leg strength exercise had a positive effect on elderly women in terms of muscle strength, flexibility, and urinary incontinence. A follow-up study is needed to determine the long-term effects of the leg strength exercise.

Citations

• A Multisite Study on the Effect of a Urinary Incontinence Self-Management Program on Community-Dwelling Older Women in Korea
  Sunah Park, Aeyoung So
  Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing.2024; 51(1): 61.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a walking and resistance exercise on body composition and lipid profile in obese women.
METHODS
Fourty three women were assigned to experimental group (n=21) or control group (n=22). The walking and resistance exercise using elastic band was provided three times a week for 12 weeks. Weight, height, body mass index, body fat percentage, abdominal fatness, skeletal muscle mass, body fatness, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured before and after the program. Paired and independent t-tests were performed using SAS program.
RESULTS
Weight (t=-5.35, p<.001), body mass index (t=-4.12, p<.001), body fat percentage (t=-2.33, p=.026), and body fatness (t=-4.32, p<.001) were significantly decreased and skeletal muscle mass (t=2.09, p=.044) was significantly increased after the walking and resistance exercise. Also, total cholesterol (t=-3.03, p=.006) and LDL cholesterol (t=-2.70, p=.011) were significantly decreased and HDL cholesterol (t=2.05, p=.046) was significantly increased after the exercise program.
CONCLUSION
According to the study result, exercise led a positive outcome on obese women in their 30~40s. The walking and resistance exercise will contribute to the improving body composition and lipid profile in this population.