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Physiological Characteristics of Female Masters Swimmers
The Physician and Sportsmedicine
|July 26, 2016
Summary
Masters swimmers aged 70-71 maintained lower body fat and higher aerobic power, comparable to young adults. Regular training may counteract age-related body composition and fitness declines.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Aging is typically associated with increased body fat and decreased aerobic capacity.
- Sedentary lifestyles accelerate these age-related physiological declines.
- Masters athletes represent a unique cohort for studying the long-term effects of lifelong physical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological adaptations in elderly female masters swimmers.
- To compare body composition and aerobic power of older athletes with sedentary peers and younger athletes.
- To determine if regular physical training can mitigate age-associated body fat accumulation and loss of cardiorespiratory fitness.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing two groups of female masters swimmers (70-71 years old) with sedentary females of the same age.
- Inclusion of younger female athletes for comparative analysis.
- Assessment of body fat percentage and maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2 max).
Main Results:
- Masters swimmers exhibited significantly lower percent body fat compared to sedentary women of the same age.
- The body fat levels of the older swimmers were comparable to those of young adult women (19-25 years old).
- Masters swimmers demonstrated Vo2 max values approximately double those of their sedentary counterparts and comparable to younger non-athletes.
Conclusions:
- Lifelong regular physical training, exemplified by masters swimmers, can significantly delay or prevent excess fat accumulation during aging.
- Consistent exercise may effectively offset the age-related decline in aerobic power (Vo2 max).
- These findings highlight the potent role of sustained physical activity in maintaining a healthy body composition and high cardiorespiratory fitness throughout the lifespan.
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