Effects of a one-year exercise training program in adults over 70 years old: a study with a control group.
OBJECTIVE
Exercise training is known to improve exercise tolerance in elderly subjects. Therefore the present study aimed at investigating the effects of one year of combined endurance and resistance training in healthy older people.


METHODS
After baseline evaluation, subjects were assigned to either the training group (n=24, age 77.2+/-3.6) or the control group (n=16, age 76.1+/-4.8). Subjects in the control group did not change anything in their everyday activities, whereas subjects in the training group underwent moderately intensive combined exercise training, 3 hours a week over the course of one year. Breath-by-breath oxygen uptake and heart rate were measured at each workload during the symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test. Performance on the 6-minute (6-MWT) and 200-meter (200-MWT) walk tests was registered and maximal strength was measured on knee extensor and plantar flexor muscles.


RESULTS
After training, oxygen uptake was significantly increased, both at the ventilatory threshold (+11.6%, p<0.01) and at the end of exercise (+14.8%, p<0.001). The distance walked in 6 min (+10%, p<0.001), the time required to cover 200 m (-7.3%, p<0.001) and the maximal muscle strength (+15.2% and +17.4% for knee extensors and plantar flexors respectively, p<0.05) also improved after training. All these parameters had not significantly changed in the control group after the one-year period.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study show that one year of combined exercise training is well-tolerated and improves aerobic capacity, performance on field tests and muscle strength in healthy subjects over 70 years old.
Deley
Gaëlle
G
INSERM/ERIT-M 0207 Motricité-Plasticité, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France. gdeley@partners.org
Kervio
Gaëlle
G
Van Hoecke
Jacques
J
Verges
Bénédicte
B
Grassi
Bruno
B
Casillas
Jean-Marie
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology