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Cardiorespiratory adaptation with short term training in older men
D Govindasamy1, D H Paterson, M J Poulin
1Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Summary
Older men experienced rapid cardiorespiratory improvements from short-term exercise training. Training significantly increased maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and reduced heart rate, demonstrating effective adaptations in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness declines with age.
- Exercise training is known to improve cardiorespiratory health.
- Understanding adaptation rates in older adults is crucial for effective programming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the rate of cardiorespiratory adaptations in older men due to a structured training program.
- To quantify improvements in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and submaximal heart rate.
- To determine the time course of these physiological changes during training.
Main Methods:
- Eight older men (mean age 66.5 years) underwent a 9-week walk/jog training program.
- Training progressed from 70% to 80% of pre-training VO2max over two phases.
- Maximal and submaximal exercise tests were conducted weekly to monitor adaptations.
Main Results:
- VO2max increased by 6.6% after 4 weeks and an additional 5.2% over the next 5 weeks.
- Submaximal heart rate decreased by 10 beats/min after 4 weeks and a further 6 beats/min by week 9.
- Adaptation rates for VO2max and heart rate were rapid, with half-times of approximately 8-9 training sessions.
Conclusions:
- Short-term exercise training induces significant and rapid cardiorespiratory improvements in older men.
- The observed adaptations suggest older adults can achieve substantial fitness gains.
- These findings support the implementation of exercise interventions for improving cardiovascular health in aging populations.