由於出生率持續下降，以及平均餘命的增長，在多數先進國家，社會的勞動階層也正迅速的老化。由於年輕勞工的比例持續減少，可以預期勞動力將會萎縮，為因應這種困境，維持高齡勞工的健康狀態，已成為各先進國家的公共衛生課題之一。隨著年齡增長，生理機能包括心肺功能、肌力與肌耐力、柔軟度與平衡感會逐漸下滑，進而影響生理負荷能力，使高齡勞工較難達成工作需求、較容易疲累，並提高職業傷害的機會。儘管高齡勞工有諸多生理功能的退化，但在多數的工作上還是能勝任愉快，甚至因為經驗充足也較熟練，其表現還勝過較年輕的勞工。然而特定的工作對高齡勞工而言容易導致職業傷害，比如從事勞力密集工者較容易衍生肌肉骨骼系統方面的疾患，下背痛與頸肩痠痛都很常見。因此這類工作應有針對高齡者的適當內容安排與安全防護，雇主也應依照正常生理退化程度，調整45~65歲勞工的最大工作量，以確保勞工安全。對於高齡勞工而言，運動訓練可減緩老化並提升體適能，有助於工作能力的維持。若施以規律的運動訓練，可增進勞工的工作效能、提高產能，並降低勞工缺勤率與傷病發生率。雇主若提供合適的時間與地點，並鼓勵員工們參與職場運動訓練，不但可以增進員工健康，也符合成本效益考量。在人口與勞動力日益老化的現在，政府與雇主應正視高齡勞工的健康問題，並及早進行各種保護措施與預防性介入。

The workforce of many developed countries is aging rapidly as the birth rate keeps decreasing,and the average life span keeps prolonging. Therefore, it has been an important public health issue to keep older workers healthy and prolong their career. The function of cardiovascular
system, muscle strength, endurance, flexibility and balance deteriorates with age,which impairs the physical work capacity of older workers. The deterioration of physical function makes older workers more difficult to achieve the demand of works, and prone to fatigue or get injured.Despite of the deterioration of physical work capacity, most of older workers can perform their job as well as the younger workers. However, specific high physically demanding tasks often cause injuries or chronic health problems to older workers, such as low back, neck and shoulder pain.There should be adequate protection and age-adjusted maximum allowable work load designed for older workers when they perform such high risk tasks.
Regular physical training can slow the age-associated decline in physical function, improve physical work capacity, fitness, work ability, and have a protective effect against work related injuries. Employers should provide their employees with the opportunity to take part in physical exercise training, which have been shown to be a cost-effective way of maintaining older workers health.