본 연구는 12주간 주 3회 복합운동 프로그램을 참여한 여성노인을 대상으로 유산소 운동 및 근력운동을 실시한 결과 신체조성(체중, 체지방량, 근육량), 기능적 체력(상체근력, 하체근력, 전신지구력, 상체 유연성, 하체 유연성, 민첩성 및 동적 평형성, 정적 평형성), 인지기능, 우울증 변화에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 알아보고자 하였다. 대상자는 서울특별시 S구와 G구에 거주하며 지역 보건소 · 보건지소를 이용하고 있는 60세 ~ 70세 여성노인으로서 운동집단 11명과 통제집단 11명으로 구분하여 설정하였다. 자료처리는 SPSS WIN Ver, 22.0을 이용하여 측정항목에 대한 평균값(M)과 표준편차(SD)를 산출하였으며, 12주 동안 복합운동 실시에 따른 시기별 및 집단 간 차이를 확인하기 위하여 반복측정 이원 변량 분산분석(two-way ANOVA with repeated measures)을 사용하고, 각 집단의 운동 전과 후의 결과를 비교 분석하기 위하여 Paired t-test를 실시하였으며, 모든 통계적 유의수준은 α =.05로 설정하였다.
신체조성(체중, 체지방량, 근육량), 기능적 체력(상체근력, 하체근력, 전신지구력, 상체 유연성, 하체 유연성, 민첩성 및 동적 평형성, 정적 평형성), 인지기능, 우울증의 변화를 살펴본 결과는 다음과 같다.
첫째, 12주간 복합운동 후 신체조성 중 체중은 집단 간, 운동시기별, 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용에 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았고, 체지방량은 집단 간(p<.01) 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 운동시기별과 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 근육량은 집단 간(p<.01) 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 운동시기별과 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다.
둘째, 12주간 복합운동 후 기능적 체력 중 상체근력은 집단 간(p<.05), 운동시기별(p<.05), 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.05)에 유의한 차이가 나타났고, 하체근력은 집단 간에서 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 운동시기별(p<.05)과 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.05)에는 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 전신지구력은 집단 간 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 운동시기별(p<.01)과 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.01)에는 유의한 차이가 나타났고, 상체 유연성은 집단 간 및 운동시기별에 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.01)에는 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 하체 유연성은 집단 간(p<.01) 유의한 차이가 나타났고, 운동시기별에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.01)에서는 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 민첩성 및 동적 평형성과 정적 평형성은 집단 간 및 운동시기별에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.01)에는 유의한 차이가 나타났다.
셋째, 12주간 복합운동 후 인지기능은 집단 간(p<.01) 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 운동시기별에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았고, 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.01)에는 유의한 차이가 나타났다.
넷째, 12주간 복합운동 후 우울증은 집단 간 및 운동시기별에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았으며, 집단 간 측정시기에 따른 상호작용(p<.01)에는 유의한 차이가 나타났다.
결론적으로 여성노인의 복합운동 프로그램의 참여가 신체조성, 기능적 체력, 인지기능, 우울증 중 일부가 개선되는 것으로 나타났으며, 이는 여성노인의 복합운동 참여가 신체적인 요소뿐만 아니라 인지, 우울과 같은 정신적 · 심리적인 요소에도 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 사료되어진다.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a combined exercise program on the elderly women''s body composition (weight, fat mass, muscle mass), functional fitness (upper body muscles, lower body muscles, general endurance, upper body flexibility, lower body flexibility, agility, dynamic balance, static balance), cognitive function, depression, etc. For this purpose, the test group of the elderly women were subject to a combined exercise program 3 times per week for 12 weeks. The 22 elderly women aged between 60 and 70 were sampled from those living in ''S'' and ''G'' districts of Seoul who were using the district public health centers or their branches. The 22 women sampled thus were divided equally into test and control groups. The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS WIN Ver. 22.0 program for means, SDs, two-way ANOVA with repeated measures - for confirmation of the effects of the 12-week combined exercise program by period and group - and paired t-test - for a comparative analysis of each group''s physical state before and after the program. The statistical significance level was set at α =.05.
The results of study could be summarized as follows.
First, there were found no significant differences of weight between the groups, by period of exercise and test times per group. However, it was found that the two groups differed significantly in terms of body fat (p<.01). But such differences were not significant by period of the exercise and test time. The muscle mass differed significantly between the two group (p<.01), but did not differ significantly by period of exercise or test time.
Secondly, after the 12-week combined exercise program, the two groups differed significantly in terms of the upper body muscle (p=0.03) and by period of exercise (p=0.03) and test time (p=0.01), but not differed significantly in terms of the lower body muscle. Moreover, the two groups did not differed significantly in terms of the interactions between themselves (p=0.01). There was found no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the general endurance, but some significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of period of the exercise (p<.01) and test time (p<.01). There were found no significant differences between the two groups and by period of exercise in terms of the upper body flexibility. Furthermore, there was found some significant differences between the two groups in terms of test time (p<.01). The lower body flexibility differed significantly between the two groups (p<.01), but the differences were not significant by period of exercise, while the differences were significant in terms of the interactions depending on the test times (p<.01). Besides, there were found no significant differences between the two groups or by the period of exercise in terms of agility, dynamic and static balances. But the interactions depending on the test times were significant between the two groups (p<.01).
Thirdly, some significant differences were found between the two groups after the 12-week combined exercise program in terms of cognitive function (p<.01), but not found in terms of the period of the exercise. The interactions depending on the test time were different significantly between the two groups (p<.01).
Fourthly, after the 12-week combined exercise program, the level of depression did not differ significantly between the two groups or by the period of exercise. The mutual interactions differed significantly between the two groups depending on the test times (p<.01).
In conclusion, it was found that the combined exercise program for the elderly women had some effects on subjects'' body composition, functional fitness and depression, which suggests that the combined exercise program would not only enhance elderly women''s physical functions but also help to improve such mental and psychological aspects as cognition and depression.