To Age Well, Walk
Rob C. Witzel for The New York TimesMildred Johnston walking along a path in Kanapaha Veterans Memorial Park in Gainesville, Fla. Ms. Johnston participated in a large study that showed the benefits of walking for older people.JAMA 5月27日刊出的這文章又再次強調常規的運動,對於老病人,或是我們自己都是有益處的,詳細內容可參照期刊全文。
過往推廣運動對身體好的文章已很多了,這文章的不同點在於,他的取樣本是70-89歲,不活動的病人,年紀真得是夠大了,而且這文章追蹤了2.6年,比其他運動研究追蹤時間還久。
控制組(靜態組)病人做一些較靜態、健康學習、上課之類的,而實驗組(活動組)則是分配一些體能活動,例如每週要走150分鐘或是做一些輕負重活動。
結果如大家預料的,實驗組在最後能有較高比例的身體活動性保持,或是較少的臥床率。然而實驗組(活動組)卻有較高的住院率,實驗主持人說明,應該是實驗進行中較常有vital sign的檢查所以早些發現了異常,或是,因為運動而“unmasked” underlying medical conditions。
更神奇的是,控制組(靜態組)的病人,因為群體的影響,也自己運動起來了。
最後,實驗主持人也提醒,年紀大的病人要活動,必須要在小心控制或是監督下,不要獨自一人,或是說能找一個運動團體一起進行。
後記:最近我也在朋友的影響下,接觸了跑步(我也是控制組的?)。加入一些臉書運動社團真的會改變自己,耳濡目染下,看他們隨便都是幾10km的跑步,真的是會激勵自己,輸人不輸陣。原先跑個10 km,膝蓋會酸軟2天,隨著練習的增加,這情況已經改善。今年也報名了台南馬沙溝三鐵,希望能追的上鄭理事長的腳步。大家一起來運動吧!






When the first was born, he said, "You get him all day--I get bath time after dinner." After bath time, he'd play--with a baby--for at least an hour.
When the second one came along and they got older, he'd come home from work and announce, "Daddy needs to lay on the floor!" This was the signal that roughhousing was about to begin.
Teasing, pranking, gross jokes--he hasn't let up in 20 years and the kids haven't stopped laughing.
Best part: he's also the dad in the sports stands in 20 degree weather. He's the dad who drives 45 minutes to watch his kid warm the bench. He's the dad who wakes up at 5:30 am and sings while he makes everyone's lunches. He's the dad who drops everything to be wherever, whenever.