Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2001

Results Resistance t r a i n i n g a nd Tai-chi we r e f o u n d to hav e d i f f e r ent h e a l t h benefits. The resistance t r a i n i ng exercis e l e d to increased b o n e m i n e r a l d e n s i t y at b o t h the h i p a n d spine — the t w omo st v u l n e r a b l e sites f o r osteoporotic fractures. It also helped to strengthen the muscles of the l ower l i mb and i mp r o v e balance v e ry substantially. Resistance trainin g is therefore most useful for the p r e v en t i on o f falls a n d fractures amo n g the elderly. Tai-chi, o n the other h a n d , d i d not produce the same k i n d o f effects o n the mu s c u l o s k e l e t al system. H o w e v e r, i t was f o u n d to be v e ry u s e f ul i n l owe r i n g b o th the heart rate a nd b l o od pressure . This c ou ld be attribute d to the emphases o n me d i t a t i o n and concentration, a nd c ou ld contribute substantially to the cardiovascular health of the elderly. Interestingly, subjects i n b o t h exercise groups reported that their 'quality of life' wa s mu c h i mp r o v e d b y participating i n these exercise programmes . The researchers conclude that e l d e r l y subjects w i t h differen t hea l t h needs ma y benefit f r om different f o rms of exercise. The mos t ideal exercise p r o g r a mme s h o u l d embrace the essential elements of b o t h Tai-chi a n d resistance training. Based o n the findings of this research, such a p r o g r amme is currently being designed , a n d is expected to have significant implications for the elderly i n H o n g K o n g — physically , mentally, and socially. Prof. Edith Lau (middle) with other researchers on her team and subjects in the research programme Prof. Edith Lau obtained her MB BS degrees from the University of Hong Kong in 1979, and her MD degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1990. She is reader in the Department of Community and Family Medicine, and director of the Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is currently president of the Hong Kong Osteoporosis Foundation and the Asian Pacific Osteoporosis Foundation. Her mission is to contribute to public health through research and education. CHINES E UNIVERSIT Y BULLETI Autumn • Winter 2001 44