Author/Authors :
Douris, Peter C Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Ingenito, Teresa Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Piccirillo, Barbara Department of Physician Assistant Studies - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Herbst, Meredith Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Petrizzo, John Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Cherian, Vincen Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , McCutchan, Christopher Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Burke, Caitlin Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Stamatinos, George Department of Physical Therapy - New York Institute of Technology, USA , Jung, Min-Kyung New York York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, USA
Abstract :
Purpose: Arterial stiffness increases with age and is related to an increased risk
of coronary artery disease. Poor trunk flexibility has been shown to be
associated with arterial stiffness in middle-aged subjects. The purpose of our
research study was to measure arterial stiffness and flexibility in healthy
middle-aged martial artists compared to age and gender matched healthy
sedentary controls.
Methods: Ten martial artists (54.0 ± 2.0 years), who practice Soo Bahk Do
(SBD), a Korean martial art, and ten sedentary subjects (54.7 ± 1.8 years) for a
total of twenty subjects took part in this cross-sectional study. Arterial stiffness
was assessed in all subjects using pulse wave velocity (PWV), a recognized
index of arterial stiffness. Flexibility of the trunk and hamstring were also
measured. The independent variables were the martial artists and matched
sedentary controls. The dependent variables were PWV and flexibility.
Results: There were significant differences, between the SBD practitioners and
sedentary controls, in PWV (P = 0.004), in trunk flexibility (P= 0.002), and in
hamstring length (P= 0.003).
Conclusion: The middle-aged martial artists were more flexible in their trunk
and hamstrings and had less arterial stiffness compared to the healthy
sedentary controls. The flexibility component of martial art training or
flexibility exercises in general may be considered as a possible intervention to
reduce the effects of aging on arterial stiffness.
Keywords :
Elasticity , Sedentary , Karate , Flexibility , Compliance
