The effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and elastic band exercise on the physical functions and blood lipids of obese elderly women were investigated. The experimental group (n1=16) patients underwent PNF for 12 weeks, and the control group (n2=15) patients performed elastic band exercises. SPSS 21.0 was used to compute the means and standard deviations. After the 12-week PNF, both the experimental and control groups showed statistically significant differences in the physical functions (cardiovascular endurance, strength of the lower extremity, muscular endurance, flexibility, balance, and agility) (p<.05), but the difference in the experimental group was more significant than that in the control group (p<.05). In terms of the changes in the blood lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein), the experimental group showed significant changes (p<.05). In conclusion, PNF was confirmed as more effective than elastic band exercise in improving the physical functions and blood lipid levels of obese elderly women.

 Introduction  Methods   Subjects  Measurement tools and methods   Body composition   Physical functions   Cardiorespiratory endurance test: twominutewalking in place   Lower-extremity test: sit-to-stand   Muscular endurance test: sit-up   Flexibility tes

• Noh, Hyeon-Jeong(Dept. of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Daejeon University)
• Kim, Seok-Hwan( Dept. of Physical Education, College of Education, Chonnam National University) | Kim, Seok-Hwan