Exercise Habits, Physical Fitness, and Awareness of Falling in Early Middle-aged and Later Middle-aged Clerical Workers

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  • 事務的職業に従事する壮年期・中年期労働者の運動習慣及び体力と転倒に対する意識
  • ジムテキ ショクギョウ ニ ジュウジ スル ソウネンキ ・ チュウネンキ ロウドウシャ ノ ウンドウ シュウカン オヨビ タイリョク ト テントウ ニ タイスル イシキ

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Abstract

<p>The purpose of this study was to clarify the current status of exercise habits, physical fitness, and awareness of falling among 30-59-year-olds in order to adopt fall prevention measures in accordance with life stages.</p><p>Subjects were 30-59-year-old workers who had undergone locomotive syndrome tests. We carried out both a survey and a physical fitness test. The survey content included basic characteristics, exercise habits, falling experience, and awareness of falling. We thereafter analyzed the data by age.</p><p>The participants included 68 workers (48 male, 20 female) with an average age of 45.5±7.8 years (mean±standard deviation). Those who exercised or played sports three days or more per week were 5.9% of those in their 30s, 21.4% in their 40s, and 13.6% in their 50s. Regarding the allotted time for exercise or sports per day, many respondents of all age groups answered “less than 30 minutes”. Those answering “one hour or more” made up 29.4% of those in their 30s, 17.9% in their 40s, and 10.0% in their 50s. Regarding physical fitness, all subjects in their 30s received a full score on the one -leg balancing with eyes open test. The results of those in their 50s was significantly lower. Results of the Sit and Reach test and Sit-up test of all ages were largely “average”, or “somewhat inferior”. Results of the Sit-up test were significantly lower for the 50s age group as compared to the 40s.</p><p>People who had experienced falling within one year numbered one person (5.9%) in their 30s, two people (6.9%) in their 40s, and two people (9.1%) in their 50s. Anxiety regarding falling was not noted, but those who were concerned about physical fitness included two people in each of the 30s and 40s age groups.</p><p>According to this study, the number of people with regular exercise habits in the 30-59-year-old age group was low, particularly for those in their 30s. However, in terms of exercise and sports practice time per day, those who exercised more than an hour per day was highest among those in their 30s. Therefore, it appears that there is a tendency for people in their 30s to exercise over a longer time but less frequently. In addition, regarding physical fitness, the balance ability of those in their 30s was excellent, however, among these, were some with reduced muscle endurance and flexibility. Among those in their 40s, problems with the ability to balance and muscle endurance are more pronounced. Furthermore, while all age groups felt some anxiety regarding physical fitness, they had little fear of falling. Based on this, as fall prevention measures for both late and early middle aged workers, it is necessary to create an environment in which they can exercise, according to their age and lifestyle, in order to maintain and improve their muscle endurance and/or flexibility.</p>

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