體適能運動對都會區中老年人體能之成效探討

Effects of Physical Fitness Exercise on Urban Middle Aged People

本研究探討體適能運動對都會區中老年人的健康體能及血液生化值的影響。本研究為介入型之研究，自2004年8月至9月以為期8 週之運動計劃介入55～75 歲年齡層之健康人或患有糖尿病、高血壓等慢性病但病情控制穩定者為研究對象。所有研究對象先接受身高、體重、血壓等理學檢查，空腹血糖、膽固醇、三酸甘油脂、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白、尿酸等血液生化檢查，以及上半身肌力測驗、下半身肌力測驗、敏捷與動作平衡測驗、下半身柔軟度測驗與心肺耐力測驗等體適能檢測。研究對象分為兩組，實驗組接受【銀髮族有氧體驗營運動計畫】介入；對照組未接受任何運動介入。【銀髮族有氧體驗營運動計畫】是特別設計符合中老年人之低衝擊、中等強度的有氧活力健康運動課程。運動頻率每週3次，每次活動持續60分鐘。八週後，所有研究對象再度接受體適能檢測以及血液生化檢查。完成前後測的實驗組共44名（男13名女31名），平均年齡為57.8 ± 0.9歲，對照組共53名（男11名女42名），平均年齡為59.3 ± 0.8 歲，兩組的性別、年齡、身體質量指數、前測的體適能及生化檢查均無相差。實驗組在經過八週的運動介入後，下半身肌力、上半身肌力、心肺耐力指數、下半身柔軟度、敏捷與動作平衡性有明顯改善；膽固醇、低密度脂蛋白亦有明顯下降。而對照組在後測時的心肺耐力指數、下半身柔軟度、敏捷與動作平衡性較前測差，其生化值檢查在前、後測則無相差。本研究結果顯示持續的、規律的體適能運動可以改善中老年人的體能及生化值。由於計畫中導入體適能運動計畫只是短期的課程，持續性的訓練是否可以達到體適能全面性的進步，將有待更進一步的研究。

Proper and adequate exercise had some beneficial effect on health and prevention of some illnesses. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of regular exercise on the physical fitness and data of blood chemistry in aged person. A total of 97 persons aged 55-75 who were apparently healthy or with well-controlled chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus and hypertension) were included in this study. Body mass index (BMI), physical fitness profile (upper body strength, lower body strength, balance and coordination, flexibility and cardiopulmonary endurance), and blood chemistry (fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), uric acid) and blood pressure were examined before and after the study. Forty-four persons (M:13 F:31, mean age 57.8±0.9 years) willing to attend a regular exercise program were recruited as the study group. Persons in the study group were then enrolled in a eight-week aerobic exercise program of low impact and moderate strength specially designed for old age with a frequency of three times a week and duration of 60 minutes. Fifty-three volunteers (M:11 F:44, mean age 59±0.8 years) were recruited as the control group. There was no significant difference in the basic data of these two groups. After the eight-week program, the physical fitness profile, total cholesterol, and LDL-C of the study group improved significantly. The control group had no change in blood chemistry data but some deterioration in the physical fitness profile after eight-week duration of usual life. This study suggests that regular and persistent exercise can improve physical fitness as well as blood chemistry data in aged person. This study only provided an eight-week exercise program, effects of long-term regular exercise to the physical fitness in aged persons should be further investigated.