隨著社會、經濟、科技及醫學技術等各方面的快速發展，臺灣人口平均壽命大幅增加，使得臺灣邁入高齡化社會型態，正因如此政府對老年人的福利與健康議題特顯關注。當人們邁入中年階段後，各組織器官逐漸產生退化性現象，生理機能逐漸下降，各種疾病的罹患機率相對上升，而要改善中年人的健康狀況、延緩衰老過程最根本的方法就是藉由身體活動來達到。桌球運動是一種集合健身性、娛樂性與競技性為一體之項目，且是智能、技能和體能三者兼備的隔網對抗運動。其具有的特點與健身價值因運動方式簡便，運動強度又可因人而異，且在運動過程中具趣味性，還可訓練許多部位，趨緩骨骼肌老化速率、預防近視、促進腦部發展、改善心肺適能、發展敏捷性、協調性及反應能力及拓展人際關係，為一項適合中年人的健身項目。

With the fast development of the society, economy, technology, and medical science, the average life span of the Taiwanese populations has increased toward the aged society. Due to this reason, the government is paying more attention to the welfare and health for the elderly. When people are in the middle-aged stage, their organs will degenerate, decrease physical functions, and increase the risk of diseases. To improve the health status and delay the onset of being old, one of the best approaches is to increase physical activities. Table tennis is a combination of fitness, recreational, and competitive sport. It is also an exercise that incorporates mental intelligence, skills and physical stamina. Some distinguished features in table tennis are that the exercise is simple and easy to play, exercise intensity can vary for each individual, the game itself is fun, it can train most parts of the body to slow down the degeneration of the skeletal muscles, to prevent nearsightedness, to promote brain development, increase cardiovascular fitness, and develop agility, coordination, and reaction ability, and also expand the interpersonal relationships. Therefore, table tennis is a suitable exercise for the middle-aged populations.