背景：規律運動是健康老化過程中的重要因子。雖然運動訓練已被證實能有效的改善老年人的心肺耐力及肌肉表現，但運動對老年人柔軟度的訓練效果仍不清楚。因此，作者希望經由系統回顧的方式，分析過去十年內的相關文獻，來檢視運動訓練如何影響老年人的柔軟度。研究方法：本篇研究中的文獻收集是以電腦資料庫及交互比對方式進行。蒐集的文獻必須符合下列條件才納入分析：必須有隨機控制的對照組，發表於十年內的研究，受試者必須在五十五歲以上且平均年齡在六十五歲以上，研究中的結果測量必須包含至少一項定量的柔軟度測試，且文獻中必須提供前後測的測試值及標準差以供統計計算成效值(effect size)的大小。結果：十一組研究報告被納入本研究分析結果，其中包含620位受試者（492位女性128位男性）。各實驗數據中包括以下幾種柔軟度測試：坐姿體前彎(sit-and-reach)，雙手後背伸展(back scratch)，以及肩關節、軀幹、股關節、膝關節及踝關節的關節活動度。運動訓練僅對肩關節及軀幹活動度有部分改善柔軟度的效果（成效值=0.9至4.1），在其他部位則無療效呈現。結論：截至目前為止，文獻回顧仍無法提供足夠證據支持運動訓練對老人柔軟度的療效。更多的研究應就此－課題加以探討，以提供臨床工作者更多給予運動處方的依據。

Background: Participation in regular physical activity is an important aspect of healthy aging. Although effects of exercise training on the cardiovascular endurance and muscle performance are well established, the relationship between exercise training and flexibility was unclear up to date. The purpose of this study is therefore to systemically review and analyze researches in this field to examine how exercise affects the flexibility of the elderly. Methods: Studies were identified by a systematic computer database and cross-reference search. The inclusion criteria were: randomized control trials (RCTs), publish date within ten years (1996-2005), human subjects ≥55 years old with a mean age over 65 years, outcome measures containing at least one flexibility measurement, and given pre-training and post-training test scores with standard deviation for computation of effect size. Results: Eleven RCTs were recruited with a total number of subjects 620 (492 females, 128 males). The flexibility measurements used in these articles included sit-and-reach, back scratch, range of motion (ROM) measurement of shoulder, trunk, hip, knee, and ankle. Exercise training tended to improve shoulder range of motion and trunk mobility (ES=0.9 to 4.1), while no significant training effect was identified for other flexibility measurements. Conclusions: The results of this systemic review failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of exercise training on the flexibility in the elderly people. More research should be conducted to understand how exercise training should be prescribed for the elderly to improve their flexibility.