本研究旨在探討養生太極拳課程對社區中高齡者健康體適能之影響。研究參與者爲桃園縣大溪鎮河西社區年齡50~74歲之中高齡者,隨機分派爲實驗組33名與對照組26名。實驗組受試者參與爲期24週,每週2次,每次90分鐘之養生太極拳課程。實驗組與對照組於課程介入前、課程介入12週後與24週課程結束後實施健康體適能檢測。資料處理以混合設計二因數變異數分析考驗兩組間與各階段在各項健康體適能檢測值之差異情形。研究結果如下:一、在12週養生太極拳課程介入後,實驗組之全身功能性爆發力、平衡感、下肢肌力、柔軟度與心肺耐力顯著優於對照組;身體組成與上肢肌力則無顯著差異。二、在24週養生太極拳課程介入後,實驗組之全身功能性爆發力、平衡感、下肢肌力、上肢肌力、柔軟度與心肺耐力顯著優於對照組;身體組成則無顯著差異。結論:養生太極拳課程可有效改善社區中高齡者健康體適能,未來研究可探討養生太極拳課程對罹患慢性疾病之中高齡者健康促進之效益。
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of health-related physical fitness brought by tai chi chuan regimen program for the middle aged and elderly in the community. The participants of this study were (age=50 to 74 years) residents of Haoshi Community of Dashi Township, Taoyuan, Taiwan. They were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n=33), and control group (n=26). The experimental group attended the tai chi chuan regimen program which was proceeding for 24 weeks, two times a week and each class for 90 minutes. The physical fitness test was conducted on all participants before the program, after the 12-week, and 24-week program. The descriptive statistic and mixed design two-way ANOVA statistical methods were utilized to analyze the data. The results indicated that: 1. After the 12-week program, the experimental group's functional power, balance, muscular strength of the lower limbs, flexibility and cardiopulmonary endurance were higher than the control group's; however, the body composition and muscular strength of the upper limbs did not show significant difference. 2. After the 24-week program, the experimental group's functional power, balance, muscular strength of the lower limbs, muscular strength of the upper limbs, flexibility and cardiopulmonary endurance were higher than the control group's; however, the body composition did not show significant difference. Conclusion: Tai chi chuan regimen program was able to improve the health-related physical fitness of elderly adults. The future study is suggested to focus on the effects that how the tai chi chuan regimen program could help to improve the health for elderly adults who suffer from chronic complaint.