INTRODUCTION
Population aging has increased public interest in maintaining
a healthy and high-quality life1)
. Methods to prevent
the functional disorders of the elderly, lengthen the span of
their healthy lives, and reduce their social and economic
burdens are needed2, 3)
. In recent years, customized exercise
methods for the elderly, which can maintain and improve
appropriate muscular strength, muscular endurance, and cardiopulmonary
functions, have drawn attention as opposed to
passive methods, such as medication4, 5)
. However, the rural
elderly show low rates of participation in sports activities
due to poor access to sports centers or other amenities that
provide exercise programs, and heavy economic burdens. In
particular, the rural elderly often experience physical pain in
the back and knees due to farming for long periods. Therefore,
opportunities are urgently required to encourage them
to improve their physical abilities and quality of life6–8)
. The
purpose of this study was to examine the effects of regular
exercise on changes in the physical functions and quality of
life of the rural elderly by designing an exercise program for
them that is appropriate for their physical condition and can
be easily performed at home.