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Aging and exercise performance.
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|May 1, 1986
Summary
Regular physical exercise can significantly improve cardiorespiratory function and physical performance in older adults, mitigating age-related declines. Exercise training enhances efficiency, boosting functional capacity and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Gerontology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Aging leads to diverse physiological changes in the oxygen transport system.
- Physical performance and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) typically decline with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the physiological adaptations to aging in the oxygen transport system.
- To explore the impact of exercise training on these age-related changes.
- To provide exercise recommendations for older adults.
Main Methods:
- Review of physiological changes during aging.
- Analysis of the effects of exercise training on cardiorespiratory function.
- Discussion of exercise testing and prescription guidelines.
Main Results:
- Exercise training can attenuate age-related declines in physical performance and VO2max.
- Cardiovascular changes with age include altered heart rate and myocardial response.
- Cardiac output during exercise in the elderly is maintained through increased ventricular filling.
Conclusions:
- Exercise training enhances the efficiency of the lungs, heart, and skeletal muscles in older adults.
- Physiological benefits of exercise include increased functional capacity and well-being.
- Individualized exercise prescriptions are recommended, with aerobic training goals of 30 minutes at moderate intensity, at least 3 days per week.