Aerobic training in the ‘oldest old’: the effect of 24 weeks of training

Abstract

Objective: to determine the effects of aerobic training on the maximal aerobic power of healthy, very elderly people.

Design: a 12‐week control period followed by 24 weeks of progressive, weight bearing, aerobic training.

Subjects: 26 men and women aged 79 to 91 years conforming to pre‐determined health criteria.

Methods: we took measurements before and after a 12 week control period and following 24 weeks of training. These were maximal aerobic power (VO₂max), heart rate at an oxygen consumption of 10 ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹ (HR at VO₂10), resting heart rate, isometric knee extensor strength, isometric elbow flexor strength and lower limb extensor power.

Main results: pre‐control values of VO₂max for the women and men were 14.1 (SD 2.79) and 22.0 (5.12) ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹ respectively. There was no significant change in the VO₂max of either group over the control period. After training, there was a 15% increase in the VO₂max of the women (P<0.01) but no change was observed in the men. In the women, there was no significant change in HR at VO₂10 over the control period but a 14% decrease (P<0.01) after training. In the men there was a 7% (P<0.05) increase in HR at VO₂10 over the control period and a 5% (P<0.05) decrease after training. No effect of training was seen on isometric knee extensor strength, isometric elbow flexor strength or lower limb extensor power of either group.

Conclusion: progressive aerobic training can increase the maximal aerobic power of very elderly women. A 15% increase in VO₂max may prevent many elderly women from crossing functionally important thresholds, thereby helping to maintain independence.

maximal aerobic power, aged, 80 and over, perceived exertion, endurance training