Effects of Ping-Shuai-Gong and Arm-Swing-Exercise

With the development of an aging society, the health and social systems of the elderly population have become issues that cannot be ignored. Due to the features of low difficulty and small space requirements, Ping Shuai Gong (PSG) and Arm Swing Exercise (ASE) become very popular within the older population. These physical activities have been proved to show advancement in cardiovascular and physical functions. Hence, this study is design to explores the health effects of two different arm-swinging strategies, and to explore the relationship between characteristics of arm-swinging movement and skin blood flow during exercise.

40 elderly people over 60 years old who have no regular exercise habits were divided into PSG group and ASE group, and each group was given two months of exercise training (at least 24 times of exercise, 30 minutes totally within one day). PSG group was asked to perform PSG exercises (actions were synchronized with the hands raised to shoulder height and then swinging down and back, with two squatting movements at the fifth time). ASE group was asked to perform ASE exercises (actions were to raise both hands synchronously to a 30-degree bend and then 60-degree shoulder extension, and to control the stability of the upper body when swinging arms).

Evaluation procedures of the pretraining evaluation and post-training evaluation are exactly the same.

Inclusion criteria

age over 60 able to stand unassisted for at least 30 minutes able to understand and follow the instructions no good exercise habits (frequency > 3 times / wk.), intensity (rated perceived exertion > 12/20), time > 30 min.) for at least 3 months able to attend the experiment for 2 months

Exclusion criteria

uncontrolled cardiovascular disease severe arrhythmia peripheral artery disease respiratory system diseasehemodialysis patients unresolved upper or lower extremity injury