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Initial ventilatory and circulatory responses to dynamic exercise are slowed in the elderly
1Laboratory for Exercise Physiology, Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Japan. ishida@htc.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|October 29, 2000
Summary
Elderly individuals exhibit slower breathing responses and reduced heart rate changes during brief exercise. These findings highlight age-related differences in physiological responses to physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Gerontology
- Cardiorespiratory Function
Background:
- Understanding age-related physiological changes is crucial for maintaining health and function in older adults.
- Early exercise responses, including breathing and circulation, can differ significantly between young and elderly populations.
- Investigating these responses provides insights into the physiological adaptations to aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of ventilatory and circulatory responses at the onset of brief, light exercise in elderly men.
- To compare these responses in elderly men with those of young men.
- To determine if passive movements elicit similar age-related differences in physiological responses.
Main Methods:
- 13 healthy elderly men (mean age 66.8 yr) and 13 healthy young men (mean age 22.9 yr) performed brief (20 s) bilateral leg extension-flexion movements with ankle weights (2.5% body mass).
- Physiological responses including minute ventilation, heart rate, and mean blood pressure were measured during voluntary and passively performed movements.
- Key response parameters such as gain and response time were analyzed and compared between age groups.
Main Results:
- Minute ventilation increased more slowly in the elderly compared to the young during both voluntary and passive movements.
- Heart rate showed a smaller increase in the elderly group than in the young group.
- Mean blood pressure decreased temporarily in both groups, with a lesser reduction observed in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- Elderly individuals demonstrate a slower ventilatory response to the onset of dynamic exercise and passive movements.
- Circulatory responses, including heart rate changes, are attenuated in the elderly compared to younger individuals.
- These findings suggest age-related alterations in the physiological control of cardiorespiratory function during the initiation of physical activity.