[The Era of 10 Million Elderly]⑨ Essential Daily Exercise for Living a Healthy 100 Years

National Health Insurance Service's 'Health Baekse Movement Class'
Diverse Exercise Programs Considering Participants' Conditions
Emphasis on 'Safe Performance' Without Overexertion

On the afternoon of the 18th of last month, at ChungHyo Senior Center in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, 10 elderly men and women sat on peach-colored yoga mats, following the instructor's movements to the beat of trot music. This was a scene from the Health Baekse Exercise Class operated by the National Health Insurance Service.

On the 18th, elderly participants in the Health Century Exercise Class are doing yoga at the Wuman Senior Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

The participants stretched their hands up, turned their necks, and extended their legs to warm up. During the rhythm exercise time, when trot songs like "Baekse Insaeng" played, they performed vigorous rowing motions with energetic shouts of "Hana~ Eoi! Dul~ Eoi!" even moves that would leave young people breathless. Instructor Lee Jeong-ye said, "The program is designed mainly with exercises that activate the brain by moving the hands and feet a lot to prevent dementia."

On the 18th, elderly participants in the Health Century Exercise Class are doing yoga at the Uman Senior Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

The Health Baekse Exercise Class has been a project run by the NHIS since 2005, providing health promotion services such as exercise and health education. Classes are held free of charge anywhere that wishes to participate, including senior centers, public facilities, facilities for the disabled, and administrative welfare centers. As of last year, a total of 2828 locations nationwide conducted 118,709 sessions for 51,071 participants. The majority of classes are held at senior centers and health lifestyle support centers targeting the elderly. Each class usually runs about twice a week during the first and second halves of the year. Instead of applying a uniform exercise program for the elderly developed by NHIS, instructors select and conduct appropriate exercise programs considering the participants' conditions.

Kim Osun (81, female), who had her arm in a cast due to a fracture, slowly moved each arm following the instructor's class that day. Kim said, "When I do the Health Baekse Exercise, my back hurts less and my body feels lighter, so I try not to miss it whenever possible." Kim Munrye (77, female), who has been attending the class for nine years, said, "After undergoing colon cancer surgery a few years ago, the Health Baekse Exercise was a great help in recovering my health."

A survey conducted by NHIS and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on 7,515 participants of the Health Baekse Exercise Class showed that the leg strength score, measured by the number of times participants could sit down and stand up from a chair in 30 seconds, increased from 15.8 before participation to 18.2 after. Aerobic endurance and balance also improved. Depression scores, measured using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), decreased from an average of 3.1 before participation to 2.2, indicating emotional improvement as well.

On the 18th, elderly participants in the Health Baekse Exercise Class are doing yoga at the Wuman Senior Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

During the class that day, "safety" was continuously emphasized. Before the class started, instructor Lee Jeong-ye asked, "Is there anyone feeling more uncomfortable than usual?" and during the exercise, she repeatedly stressed, "Don't be greedy, do only what you can, and stop anytime if you feel tired." Exercises were tailored to each individual's physical condition; among the 10 participants, three who found it difficult to sit cross-legged followed the exercises while seated on chairs.

Instructor Lee Jeong-ye said, "Nowadays, all elderly people know the importance of regular exercise, so their willingness to participate is very strong. As people age, not only does physical strength weaken but body shape changes as well, so we focus on basic movements to perform the program safely and without strain."