This study is to examine the effect of home support exercise program on body composition, senior fitness, cognitive function, and activity of daily living of aged 65 over 35 women (control: 19, exercise: 16) with dementia in B city as MMSE-K (mini-mental state examination) scores between 11-23. Exercise equivalent between 9-11 RPE during the first period (1-6 weeks) and exercise equivalent between 13-15 RPE during the second period (7-12 weeks) were applied for total 12 weeks, 3 times a week, and 60 minutes at a time. SPSS Ver. 18.0 was used to get mean(M) and standard deviation(SD). The comparison with change within groups was analyzed using a paired t-test, and the independence t-test was applied to verify interaction between group and time. Data were analyzed repeatedly with ANOVA for comparison and program with alpha level of p<.05 for all tests of significance.
The results of comparative analysis are as follows;
1. Body composition
In the exercise group, the body composition variables (muscle mass, fat­free mass, and %fat) had no significant difference. However, the variables (muscle mass, and at­free mass) of control group significantly reduced. There was no interaction between time and group.
2. Senior fitness
In 30-second arm curl test, 30-second chair stand test, back scratch test, chair sit-and-reach test, 2.44m up-and-go test, and 2-minute step test as fitness factors, the exercise group are superior to the control group. However, there was no significant increase in the control group. In other side, an effect between time and group for each of chair sit-and-reach test was appeared.
3. MMSE-K(mini-mental state examination)
There was an interaction between groups and periods for cognitive function. In the exercise group, the cognitive function is higher than the control group.
4. Activities of Daily Living
There was a significant increase in the exercise group than control group for change of activities of daily living. There was an interaction between time and group.
In conclusion, 12 weeks-Home Support Exercise Program is appeared to be effective in improvement of health, cognitive function, and activities of daily living. It needs to recommend the Home Support Exercise Program easily make of a way of life to elderly woman with dementia.