緒論：近年來隨著老年人口逐漸增加，對中老年人的健康越來越受到重視，規律的運動對於心血管系統及自律神經活性的控制有好處。而不少研究也發現運動有助於提昇自律神經的活性。故本研究主要利用心率變異度的方法探討6週上、下運動訓練對中老年女性休息時心率變異度的影響。方法：招募16名55歲以上中高齡女性，並隨機分成：下樓梯組和上樓梯組（n=8人／組）。進行6週漸增負荷之樓梯運動，並於過程中穿戴Polar心率錶，記錄心跳率（heart rate, HR）。也在進行6週樓梯運動前和後，各穿戴Polar心率錶記錄休息時心率，做為心率變異度頻域分析：low frequency power (LF)、標準化LF (LF norm)、high frequency power (HF)、標準化HF (HF norm)、LF/HF。每次完成樓梯運動後立即使用運動自覺量表(rating of perceived exertion, RPE)評估疲勞反應，並記錄心跳率反應。所有結果以二因子混合設計變異數分析進行比較。結果：上、下樓梯組（64.8±6.5歲）經過6週運動介人後，休息心率、LF norm、HF norm、LF/HF未優於前測(p＞ .05)。然而上樓梯組LF (249.9 ± 186.2 vs. 614.8 ± 455.6, p＜.05)和下樓梯組LF (197.2 ± 175.7 vs. 480.1 ± 359.7, p＜ .05)，上樓梯組HF (113.6 ± 105.6 vs. 447.1 ± 394.8, p＜ .05)和下樓梯組HF (75.2 ± 72.7 vs. 296.1 ± 299.5, P＜ .05)後測成績明顯優於前測，但是不同二組之問並無統計差異妒(p＞ .05)。6週上樓梯運動強度(HR: 103.3 ± 21.5 bpm)明顯大於(p＜ .05）下樓梯運動方式(HR: 82.9 ± 8.9bpm)。而不同二組之問RPE無統計差異(p＞ .05)。結論：本研究結果發現，進行6週上、下樓梯運動介人之後，均能有效增加中高齡女性LF、HF值，未來可做為推廣中高齡女性改善心率變異度運動之一。其中又以下樓梯方式所產生的生理耗能較小。

Introduction: Since the recent increase in the population of older people, the health of middle-aged and older people has garnered increasing attention. Numerous studies have indicated that regular exercise benefits the activities of the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems. This study investigated the effect of a 6-week stair exercise intervention on the resting heart rate variability (HRV) of middle-aged and older women. Methods: The participants of this study were 16 women aged 55 years and older, who were randomly assigned to the down-the-stairs and up-the-stairs groups (n = 8 participant per group). A 6-week incremental stair exercise intervention was administered, and a Polar heart rate (HR) monitor was attached to each participant to measure her HR during the exercise. In addition, the resting HR of the participants was recorded using the monitors before and after the exercise to analyze the frequency domains of the HRV, namely the low frequency power (LF), LF norms, high frequency power (HF), HF norms, and LF/HF. After each type of stair exercise was completed, the fatigue and HR responses of the participants were evaluated using the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. All the results were compared through a two-way mixed analysis of variance. Results: No substantial difference was observed between the baseline and postintervention in the heart rate 、 LF norm, HF norm, and LF/HF in either group (p ＞ .05). Significant difference (p ＜ .05) was observed between the baseline and postexercise in the LF of the stair-ascending (249.9 ± 186.2 vs. 614.8 ± 455.6) and descending groups (197.2 ± 175.7 vs. 480.1 ± 359.7), and HF of the stair-ascending (113.6 ± 105.6 vs. 447.1 ± 394.8) and descending groups (75.2 ± 72.7 vs. 296.1 ± 299.5), without any significant difference between the two groups (p ＞ .05). The postexercise HR of the up-the- stairs group (103.3 ± 21.5 bpm) were significantly higher than those of the down-the-stairs group (82.9 ± 8.9 bpm, p ＜ .05). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in their RPE scores (p ＞ .05). Conclusion: This study shows that both stair-ascending and descending exercise interventions improved LF 、 HF in middle-aged and older women; however, the exercise intensity were lower during the stair-descending exercise than during the stair-ascending exercise. Thus, the stair-descending exercise may be provided to the elderly population as an efficient exercise for increase HRV in the future.