Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise intervention regarding exercise attitudes and physical fitness among elderly adults without regular exercise. Methods: The researchers utilized a quasi-experimental design. The study subjects were elderly adults with the age of 55 to 74 and recruited from the Shihlin district of Taipei. Participants without regular exercise were divided into intervention and non-intervention groups. Subjects in the intervention group attended a 12-week exercise program, while subjects in the non-intervention group did not attend. The measures included a structured questionnaire and physical fitness test. Repeated-measures ANOV A tests were employed to evaluate the impact of exercise intervention. Results: After the 12-week exercise program, the total score of exercise attitude in intervention group was changed from 36.2 to 41.1 (P＜O.OOI) but there was no significant difference in non-intervention group. The cardiac endurance index but there was no significant difference in non-intervention group. The cardiac endurance index was enhanced from 56.6 to 70.9 (P＜O.OOI); balance from 10.5 and 13.4 sec (P=0.O04); muscle strength from 26.0 to 26.6 kg (p == 0.043); muscle endurance from 16.1 to 18.0 times (P＜0.001); flexibility from 28.6 to 31.5 cm (P=O.038); and agility from 22.3 to 17.9 cm (P=O. 084). However, the body component did not show significant change (P=O.346) after the 12week exercise intervention. Conclusions: The results indicat that a 12-week exercise intervention program was effective to improve exercise attitude and the physical fitness of the elderly adults.
