Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity fitness in the mid-elderly. A total of 171 healthy mid-elderly participants(126 males and 45 females) were chosen randomly to measure and evaluate eight fitness activities related to their daily life. They were very active in daily workouts and social activities. In order to investigate profiles in the change of physique and gender differences with respect to their age, means and standard deviations were computed for each age group and gender. A two-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether there were significant differences between gender and among ages. The primary principal component was treated as a fundamental activity fitness in daily life by principal component analysis. Four items in activity fitness were considered as the independent variables while the primary principal component was considered as the dependent variable. Multiple regression analysis was also conducted to determine the regression equation for daily life activity fitness. For each item, 75% was selected to attain criteria for evaluation. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The regression equation for activity fitness in the mid-elderly are as follows: For males, AFS == -1.197 - 0.119X1 + 0.014X2 + 0.050X3 - 0.048X4 For females, AFS == -3.475 - 0.133X1 + 0.011X2 + 0.088X3 - 0.091X5 (where X1= figure 8 walk, X2= one leg balancing with eyes open, X3= peg manipulation using a pegboard, X4= arm curl, and X5= standing up and sitting down from a chair). 2. The 75th percentile of each item in activity fitness were selected for both males and females, the criteria for evaluation were selected as follows: For males, 38.1 kg in grip strength, 35 repetitions of arm curls, 29 repetitions of standing up and sitting down from a chair, 9.7 cm in sit and reach, 60 seconds for one leg balancing with eyes open, 5.4 seconds in 10-m fast walking, 25.3 seconds in figure 8 walk, 40 repetitions of peg manipulation using a pegboard, and 24.9% body fat. For females, 26.4 kg in grip strength, 30 repetitions of arm curl, 30 repetitions of standing up and sitting down using a chair, 18.4 cm in sit and reach, 60 seconds for one leg balancing with eyes open, 6.0 seconds in 10-m fast walking, 23.3 seconds in a figure 8 walk, 42 repetitions of peg manipulation using a pegboard, and 33.3% body fat.