Effects of high intensity aerobic exercise on treadmill on maximum-expiratory lung capacity of elderly women

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine whether a systematic high intensity aerobic exercise on treadmill was effective in improving pulmonary function. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of this study were 22 healthy elderly women over 65 years of age who were attending the Senior Welfare Center and Social Welfare Center programs in B city. For the pulmonary function test, a spirometry (Pony FX, COSMED Inc., Italy) was used. The item for measurement of pulmonary function in elderly women was maximum-effort expiratory spirogram (MES). The pulmonary function test was performed 3 times, and its mean value was used for analysis. After a 15 minute warm-up stretching, high intensity aerobic exercise was performed for 20 minutes as a main exercise, followed by 15 minutes of cool-down stretching. Exercise was performed three days a week for 12 weeks. [Results] Among items of maximum-effort expiratory spirogram, a significant difference after exercise was demonstrated in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Two factors were improved after exercise. [Conclusion] The results demonstrated that high intensity aerobic exercise on the treadmill has a positive effect on the pulmonary function of elderly women.