We examined whether nocturia in the elderly would be improvable by the exercise therapy. The exercise therapy combined gymnastics, walking, dumbbell movement and squat movement. Questions relating to micturition and exercise, body composition analysis, blood biochemistry, and urinalysis were performed before and after the exercise therapy for 4-8 weeks, and the effect of the exercise therapy was examined. Fifteen cases (12 men, 3 women, 69 years old of average age) actually continued the exercise therapy and have been possible for evaluation, but all cases were continuing mainly the walking. The number of nocturia significantly (p<0.001) decreased from 3.3±0.6 (mean±standard deviation) times to 2.0±0.8 times after the exercise therapy. In addition, the edema ratio (extracellular water volume / total body water volume: from 0.352±0.003 to 0.350±0.002), serum noradrenaline (from 749±133 pg/ml to 645±154 pg/ml), dopamine (from 25±7 pg/ml to 15±7 pg/ml) and total cholesterol (from 226±17 mg/dl to 209±20 mg/dl) also significantly (p<0.05) decreased. By the impression of the cases after the exercise therapy, the opinion that sleep became deep was acquired from 10 cases (67%). In the degree of whole improvement, excellect or good improvement were recognized in 8 cases (53%). As a main factor of effects of the exercise therapy for nocturia, it was able to consider having made sleep deep and having made arousal threshold bladder volume by sense of urination increase.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.23/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE