運動介入對於老化造成步態改變的影響

Effect of exercise intervention to gait change by aging

臺灣逐年增加的高齡人口數意味著失能風險與照護成本不斷提高，其中跌倒是導致失能的重要危險因子，因此預防跌倒維持生理功能成了刻不容緩的議題；老化會造成人體生理的改變，過去研究表示肌力不足與步態的變化是最容易造成跌倒的原因，而肌力的下降與步態改變息息相關，也有若干研究發現運動的介入可以延緩老化造成的生理改變，增進肌肉力量的表現，但似乎較少將肌肉力量表現與下肢關節角度變化相連結；故本文將對此做出探討，並討論運動介入對於步態的影響。

In Taiwan, the increase of elderly population raises the possibility of disability and care cost. Falling, for older adults, is identified as a determinate factor of disability. Wherefore the prevention of falling for older adults has become an important issue. Previous studies suggest that muscle strength and gait stability are key risk factors of elderly falling, which both are related to age-related sarcopenia. It is found that exercise intervention could improve muscle strength and reduce the risk factor of falling. Nevertheless, few researches have investigated the relationship between muscle strength and gait variability. Therefore, this study reviews literature relating to the effect of exercise intervention to gait change of elderly adults.