The effects of a community-centered muscle strengthening exercise program using an elastic band on the physical abilities and quality of life of the rural elderly

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a muscle strengtheningexercise program using an elastic band on changes in the physical abilities and quality oflife of the rural elderly. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 46 elderly people (8males, 38 females) aged 65 or older, who lived in a rural area and managed their dailylives independently. [Methods] The study’s exercise program was conducted 16 times for 80minutes each session over an eight-week period. This program consisted of severalexercises to strengthen muscular endurance and improve balance ability based on exercisesusing Thera-bands. The physical abilities of the subjects were divided into muscularendurance, upper-extremity flexibility, balance, and low-extremity agility. Each abilitywas measured to compare the effects of the exercise program. In addition, the Koreanversion of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaire wasused to examine changes in the subjects’ quality of life. [Results] The subjects showedimprovements in muscular endurance, balance, and low-extremity agility. They alsoexhibited an overall statistically significant improvement in quality of life scores afterthe exercise program. In terms of the main items, changes were observed in the areas ofpsychological relations, social relations, and environment. [Conclusion] Thecommunity-centered muscle strengthening exercise program using the elastic band was foundto improve muscular endurance, balance, agility, and quality of life of rural elderlysubjects.Key words: Elderly, Physical ability, Quality of life