Effects of breathing exercises on lung capacity and muscle activities of elderly smokers.

[Purpose] Elderly smokers have a reduced chest diameter due to weakening of the respiratory muscles, and this results in decreased ventilation, leading to a vicious circle. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of an intervention program to enhance the pulmonary function and muscle activity of elderly smokers. [Subjects and Methods] Participants were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups or a control (CG) group. The experimental groups performed exercises three times per week for six weeks, whereas the CG performed no exercises. One of the experimental groups performed a Feedback Breathing Exercise (FBE) for 15 minutes, and the other repeated three sets of Balloon-Blowing Exercises (BBE) with sufficient rest of more than one minute between sets. [Results] In the experimental groups, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEF and muscle activity of the rectus abdominis significantly improved after four weeks, but no significant differences were observed in FEV1 or VC after six weeks. [Conclusion] The results show that FBE and BBE improved the pulmonary functions of elderly smokers, demonstrating the potential benefits of the development of various training methods using balloons, and group programs, including recreational factors, for increasing respiratory muscles strength.

Pulsed and Continuous Ultrasound Increase Chondrogenesis through the Increase of Heat Shock Protein 70 Expression in Rat Articular Cartilage.

[Purpose] The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of pulsed and continuous ultrasound (US) irradiation on heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and mRNA levels of chondrogenesis-related gene expression in rat tibial articular cartilage. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-eight rats with body weights of 200-250 g were randomly divided into three groups. In the control (CON) group, three rats were treated with sham sonication. The pulsed US irradiation group was irradiated with a pulse rate of 20%, a frequency of 1 MHz, and an intensity of 1.5 W/cm(2) for 10 minutes. The continuous US irradiation group was continuously with a frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 1.5 W/cm(2) for 10 minutes. Immunohistochemistry for evaluation of HSP 70 and RT-PCR for expression of the chondrogenesis-related mRNA were used. [Results] The expression of HSP70 protein was increased in the pulsed and continuous US groups. The increase in the continuous US group was more prominent than in the pulsed US group. In addition, pulsed and continuous US irradiation increased the expression of Mustn1 and Sox9. [Conclusion] The results of this study show that US increases chondrogenesis via the increase of HSP 70 and chondrogenesis-related mRNA expressions in rat articular cartilage.