目的：本研究旨在探討12週負重下坡走路與下坡走路訓練對高齡者下肢肌力與平衡能力的訓練效果。方法：18位65歲以上健康男性高齡者作為研究對象，依前測非慣用側股四頭肌之最大等速肌力 (maximal voluntary isokinetic concentric contraction, MVC-CON) 配對分組分為負重下坡走路組 (load carriage downhill walking, LDHW) 與下坡走路組 (downhill walking, DHW)，接著兩組進行為期12週，每週2次，每次30分鐘的自選速度 (self-selected walking speed, SSWS) 負重下坡走路或下坡走路訓練。在下坡走路訓練前及第4、8週與第12週訓練後進行坐到站動作之最大地面反作用力 (ground reaction force, GRF)、坐站時間 (chair-rise time, CRT)、閉眼雙腳站立之壓力中心 (center of pressure, CoP) 位移距離、面積、速度，以及前後側 (antero-posterior, AP) 和中外側 (mediolateral, ML) 位移距離等測驗。二因子混合設計變異數作為統計分析。結果：在下坡走路訓練後LDHW組GRF在第4、8與12週均顯著大於前測 (p < .05)，且第8週顯著大於第12週，DHW組則在第4與8週顯著大於前測 (p < .05)，LDHW組在所有時間點均顯著大於DHW組 (p < .05)；CRT、CoP、AP、ML於第4、8及12週顯著低於前測 (p < .05)，CoP位移面積第12週顯著低於第4週 (p < .05)，兩組間在所有時間點均未達顯著差異 (p > .05)。結論：高齡者經12週漸增負重或單純下坡走路訓練，皆可有效提升下肢肌力與平衡能力。漸增負重下坡走路於第4週即可顯著改善肌力，而單純下坡走路則需至第8週方見進步；平衡能力兩者均於第4週提升。結果顯示，漸增負重對肌力具額外效益，但對平衡無明顯優勢。

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the training effects of a 12-week load carriage downhill walking and downhill walking on lower limb balance and muscle strength in older adults. Methods: 18 healthy older adults aged 65 and above participated in this study. Based on the maximal voluntary isokinetic concentric contraction (MVC-CON) of the non-dominant quadriceps muscle measured during the pretest, participants were matched and assigned into two groups: the load carriage downhill walking group (LDHW) and the downhill walking group (DHW). Both groups underwent a 12-week training program, consisting of two sessions per week, each lasting 30 minutes at a self-selected walking speed (SSWS), involving either load carriage downhill walking or downhill walking. Outcome measures were assessed before the intervention, and at weeks 4, 8, and 12, and included ground reaction force (GRF) during the sit-to-stand task, chair-rise time (CRT), center of pressure (CoP) displacement distance, area, and velocity under eyes-closed standing, along with antero-posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) displacement distances. A two-way mixed-design ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results: Following the downhill walking intervention, the LDHW group demonstrated significantly greater GRF at weeks 4, 8, and 12 compared to baseline (p < .05), and week 8 that was significantly higher than at week 12. In the DHW group, GRF was significantly increased at weeks 4 and 8 relative to baseline (p < .05). The LDHW group exhibited significantly higher GRF than the DHW group (p < .05). CRT, CoP, AP, and ML significantly decreased at weeks 4, 8, and 12 in both groups compared to baseline (p <.05). Moreover, CoP area at week 12 was significantly smaller than at week 4 (p < .05). However, no significant differences were found between groups for these balance-related measures (p > .05). Conclusion: Both progressive load carriage and regular downhill walking over 12 weeks significantly improved lower limb strength and balance in older adults. Strength gains appeared earlier in the load carriage group by week 4 than in the non-load group by week 8, while balance improvements emerged by week 4 in both groups. Progressive loading provided additional benefits for muscular strength, but not for balance performance.