「上下動心肺耐力有氧運動」課程對社區老人功能性體適能之成效

The Effects of“Up and Down Aerobic Exercise”Program on Functional Fitness in Community-Dwelling Elderly

目的：本研究旨在發展適合老人的多元團體趣味運動課程—「上下動心肺耐力有氧運動」，以及測試此課程對老人功能性體適能的成效。方法：研究者採集群準實驗介入研究設計，在彰化偏鄉的9個社區關懷據點，以方便取樣法招募160位65歲或以上之老人，同一個「社區關懷據點」的老人被分為同一組，也就是將5個「社區關懷據點」的老人分到實驗組（n = 80），另外4個據點老人則分到對照組（n = 80）。實驗組每週執行1次，每次50分鐘之「上下動心肺耐力有氧運動」課程，為期10週。對照組（n = 80）維持原有的日常活動，沒有運動介入。結果與討論：「上下動心肺耐力有氧運動」課程介入後，實驗組老人的功能性體適能指標，如下肢肌力、上下肢柔軟度、心肺耐力及平衡能力（閉眼站立）有顯著差異（p < 0.05），特別是下肢柔軟和心肺耐力明顯優於對照組（p < 0.001）。10週的「上下動心肺耐力有氧運動」課程僅對老人部分功能性體適能的指標有成效，可能是本研究運動課程的時間和強度不足所致。此外，老化和日常活動會影響功能性體適能，為了客觀地測出運動功效，日後研究者應進行縱貫性實驗研究，並在研究中增加運動劑量和控制干擾變項。

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a multiple dimension and interesting group exercise program entitled“Up and Down Aerobic Exercise”program for older adults and to test its effects on elderly functional fitness. Methods: The researcher used cluster quasi- experimental interventional study design and convenient sampling to recruit 160 participants, aged 65 or older from nine community activity centers in the Changhua rural areas. The participants from a same community activity center were assigned to the same group. That is, the elderly in the five out of nine community activity centers were assigned to an experimental group (n = 80), and those in the other four centers were in a reference group (n = 80). The participants in the experimental group participated in the“Up and Down Aerobic Exercise”program once a week, 50 minutes each time, lasting for 10 weeks. However, the reference group maintained their original daily activities and was not provided with the program. Results and Discussion: Upon the completion of“Up and Down Aerobic Exercise”program, the functional fitness indicators, such as muscular strength of lower extremities, flexibility of lower and upper extremities, aerobic endurance, and balance (standing when eyes were closed), were significantly improved in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Particularly, the flexibility of lower extremities and aerobic endurance of the participants in the experimental group were significantly better than the reference group (p < 0.001). The 10 week“Up and Down Aerobic Exercise”program can only benefit some indicators of the functional fitness of older adults. Possibly, this is because of insufficient duration and strength of this exercise program. Moreover, aging and daily activities are associated with the functional fitness. Thus, to exam objectively the effects of an exercise program on older adults, future research should conduct a longitudinal and experimental study that increases exercise dosage and control the intermediate variables.