Age and Ageing 2002; 31: 247-254
© 2002, British Geriatrics Society
Research papers |
Improving cardiovascular fitness by strength or endurance training in women aged 76–78 years. A population-based, randomized controlled trial
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Keskussairaalantie 19, FIN-40620, Jyväskylä, Finland
1 Berner Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
2 Peurunka-Medical Rehabilitation and Physical Exercise Centre, Laukaa, Finland
3 Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Abstract
Background: there have been few population-based, randomized controlled trials on the effects of strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness in older women.
Objective: to study the effects of strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness in women aged 76–78 years.
Design: a population-based, randomized controlled trial.
Setting: exercise laboratory in a university faculty of sport and health sciences.
Subjects: we randomly assigned 42 medically-screened women aged 76–78 years, drawn from the population register to strength (n=16), endurance (n=15) or control (n=11) groups.
Methods: subjects in the two exercise groups performed a supervised, individually tailored 18-week strength or endurance training programme. Controls continued with physical activity at their normal level.
Results: the strength training group showed an increase in cycle ergometer peak power from 68.1 to 70.3 W (P=0.035 compared with controls). Their peak power per kg body weight increased from 1.02 to 1.05, while that of the endurance training group increased from 0.91 to 0.93 (P=0.027 and P=0.049 respectively). Peak oxygen uptake increased from 18.1 to 19.7 ml·kg-1·min-1 in the strength and from 17.1 to 18.2 in the endurance group (non-significant). Six subjects (19%) in the exercise groups withdrew from the study because of health problems.
Conclusions: even with its limitations, the study suggests that the effect of 18-week strength or endurance training on cardiovascular fitness among women aged 
75 is relatively small. Furthermore, health problems can emerge during training programmes in medically-screened elderly women.
Keywords: aged, cardiovascular fitness, exercise, women
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. DiPietro, J. Dziura, C. W. Yeckel, and P. D. Neufer Exercise and improved insulin sensitivity in older women: evidence of the enduring benefits of higher intensity training J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2006; 100(1): 142 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Haykowsky, J. McGavock, I. Vonder Muhll, M. Koller, S. Mandic, R. Welsh, and D. Taylor Effect of Exercise Training on Peak Aerobic Power, Left Ventricular Morphology, and Muscle Strength in Healthy Older Women J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., March 1, 2005; 60(3): 307 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|