[Maintaining competence by physical activity and sports--circulatory physiologic and sports medicine prerequisites]

With increasing age, there is a change in the mitochondrial pattern of muscle tissue which leads to a loss of compliance of the arterial vessel wall and therefore to a slight change in contraction mode of the heart and also to a decrease of stroke and circulation volume. In the same way, lung function parameters such as vital capacity and forced ventilatory capacity are changes in the elderly. In addition to these, a higher incidence of general disease will change the organism, particularly heart circulation and the pulmonary system. In order to judge physical performance and sporting activity, certain physiological and pathophysiological features of aging have to be taken into consideration in the elderly. Avoiding any risks should be always above to intention of gaining a better physical condition, although this is desirable in principle.