根據聯合國世界衛生組織的定義，一個國家65歲以上老年人口比例超過7%，即算是進入「高齡化社會」；截至1993年底，台灣地區65歲以上人口佔總人口比例為7.1%，可見台灣已進入高齡化社會的行列。隨年齡增長，維持身體功能的能力開始衰退，因此容易發生意外傷害，其中尤以跌倒最為普遍；跌倒發生率隨年齡逐年上升，而老年人跌倒多因平衡能力降低所致，是以尋求有效改善高齡者平衡能力的策略，值得體育專業者重視。近來國內外積極推動走路運動或健走運動，主要特徵在於簡單易行、不需昂貴花費、不受時間與場地限制，且較不容易發生意外傷害，是相當適合老年人的活動方式。如能長期從事走路運動，不僅可以維持及增進平衡能力，而且能有效降低老年人發生跌倒的比例。

According to World Health Organization (WHO), if a country has the proportion of people aged 65 and over exceeding 7%, it could be defined as an "advanced age society". The statistics up to the end of 1993 showed that the proportion of population aged 65 and over in Taiwan had become 7.1%. Obviously, the social structure of Taiwan had become an advanced age society. As people age, the capacity of maintaining physical functions became degenerate, so it is easily to get accidental injury, and the most common problem is falling. The incidence of falling increases when ageing, and the cause of the elderly falling is usually the balance ability failing. Hence, how to improve balance ability in the elderly to prevent from falling efficiently should be highly noticed by sports professionals. In recent years, walking has been energetically promoted both in domestic and abroad. The characteristics of walking are simple, cheap, less limited by time and place, and less occurrence of unexpected injuries. Walking is an appropriate physical activity for the elderly. Regularly walking could keep and improve balance ability of the elderly, and diminish falling occurrence effectively.