[[alternative]]A Comparison Study of Regular Exercise Habit and Life Quality of the Elderly

[[abstract]]The purpose of this study was to compare life quality of the elderly who did participate or did not participate in regular exercise. Three hundred and twenty three subjects (male: 156; female: 167) were the elderly living in Taipei area, with aged between 65?80 (72.95±5.15), and were the Taichi Group (n=106), the Walk Group (n=111), and Non-Exercise Group (n=106). The Brief Version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life was applied as the questionnaire. Subjects completed the questionnaire by themselves or with the help of the inquirer. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Pearson product-moment correlation. The results were: 1.There were significant differences on life quality between the two regular exercise groups and Non-Exercise Group. (p< .05) 2.The order of life quality was the Tai-chi Group, the Walk Group and Non-Exercise Group and differences of life quality among Groups were significant (p< .05). 3.The life quality of the elderly with regular exercise (taking exercise with duration over 30 minutes per day, 3 times a week, for 6 months at least.) did not change with increases of their exercise duration or frequency. The study concluded that the elderly taking regular exercise possesses better life quality.